Make a Home for Florida Bats

Bats. From as early as I can remember (and probably long before that) they’ve been associated with Halloween, haunted houses, ghosts, and such nonsense. Bats are actually very cool little mammals, the only ones that can fly, and they perform many useful functions for humans.

Here in Florida bats are the most important controller of night-flying insects, including many agricultural pests. One small bat can eat up to 3,000 insects in a night! Unfortunately, many bat species are disappearing at alarming rates. Disturbance or destruction of roost sites due to development and vandalism constitute the greatest threat to the Florida’s bats.

Here in Florida thirteen species of bats are permanent or seasonal residents. Bats often live in natural structures such as caves when available. We don’t find many caves in Florida, so where do the bats live?

Most Florida bats prefer to roost in mature trees, or large dead trees (snags). However, many bats take up residence in buildings or other manmade structures, due to loss of habitat. If you would like the benefits of having bats live near your property, but don’t want them in your house, you can always put up a bat house.

Bat houses provide alternative roost sites for Florida’s colonial bat species. A bat house in your backyard will offer local bats a much needed place to live. They will also do you a return favor by helping to control the insects in the area. You can buy one already made, or if you’re handy build your own.

If you would like to build your own bat house, you can obtain plans for a triple chambered bat house by clicking on Bat House Plans. To see photographs of the bat house under construction, click on Construction Photos. To watch Florida Bat Conservancy volunteer, George Fenner, describe how to build a quality bat house, click on http://wildflorida.tv/bats/downloads.html.

Of course, like any other wild animals bats will benefit from having natural, undeveloped areas. You can help bats, birds, and all kinds of other wildlife by supporting the work of organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society. There are also organizations that works on behalf of bats, the Florida Bat Conservancy and the Lubee Bat Conservancy. They put on an annual bat festival you can attend to learn more about these fascinating, little understood mammals.

Consider putting a house for Florida bats on your property. The bats will appreciate the love, and you’ll appreciate the sudden disappearance of mosquitos and other biting insects.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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