Do You Have To Clean Bat Houses

18th March 2020

Natural roosting sites for bats are in reject due to changes in building standards and countryside management practices. Installing a bat box is a unproblematic and affordable way of providing much needed roost space for a diversity of species and now is the ideal time to install one, earlier bats fully emerge from hibernation. However, placing your bat boxes in the correct location and at the correct pinnacle is essential to encourage bats to occupy them. With this in listen, we take put together some answers to the well-nigh oft asked questions most bat boxes – covering where and when to put up your boxes, cleaning and maintenance, and the legalities of checking whether they are occupied.

Which bat box should I purchase?

Bat boxes can be placed in trees, on walls and on or in the brickwork of buildings. To help you choose the most suitable bat box based on where y'all want to locate it, take a look at our three-office series designed to help you make the right choice:

Top 10 Bat Boxes for Trees and Woodland

Top 10 Bat Boxes for Walls and Fences

Top ten Bat Boxes for New Builds and Developments

When is the best fourth dimension to put upwards a bat box?

Bat boxes tin be installed at any fourth dimension of year, merely they are more than likely to be used during their start summer if they are put upwards before the bats emerge from hibernation in the leap. If you are installing bat boxes every bit part of an exclusion project from a building, it is best to erect the boxes four to six weeks earlier the exclusion.

Where should I hang my bat box?

All bat boxes should be positioned at a tiptop of three-half-dozen metres (the higher the better) in an open, sunny position (6-eight hours of directly sunlight, or in a location where it receives the morning sun if this is not possible). Try to install the bat box where it volition not be disturbed past brilliant lights at night such equally porch or security lights.

The nearly common location to hang a bat box is on a tree using a strong nail that is at least 85 mm in length. It is important to use aluminium nails, as these will not harm a chainsaw (or chainsaw user) should they be left in the tree when it is felled. For more than details on how to hang your bat box to a tree, wall or fence, please read our blog on where to hang and how to maintain your nest box, which, although mainly focused on bird boxes, is every bit relevant for bat boxes.

How do I check whether the box is occupied?

Many bat boxes accept an opening at the bottom and do non require whatever maintenance as the droppings will simply autumn out of this space. If cleaning is required it is essential that y'all ensure that the box is not occupied earlier carrying out any maintenance. Once bats accept inhabited a roost site they may just exist disturbed by licensed bat workers . If yous are unsure whether your bat box is occupied the best mode to check for box occupancy is to observe the box at dusk (15 minutes after dusk for effectually xxx minutes) to scout for whatsoever bats leaving. Additionally, you can await under and nearby the box for guano (bat debris). If in that location are bats nowadays, wait until afterward in the season and then cheque over again. It's also a good opportunity to utilize a bat detector to identify the bats in your box – accept a wait at our guide on bat detecting for beginners .

How do I maintain my bat box?

The best time to clean the majority of bat boxes (those suitable for summer roosts) is during the autumn or winter. Once you take ensured the bat box is not occupied you can open up the box and make clean out whatsoever droppings. Whilst yous are cleaning the bat box it is a good idea to look for whatsoever damage, as this may hateful information technology is unlikely to be used. The most probable damage will be broken seams around the roof, because the constant heating and cooling during the day can warp the wood slightly. To repair this, nosotros would recommend using a roof sealant.

Head over to the NHBS website to browse our full range of bat boxes. If y'all have any other questions or would like further advice, please get in touch with our team of Wildlife Equipment Specialists (email: equipment@nhbs.com or phone +44 (0)1803 865913).