Hey, after a few of the conversations about bats, I went out and checked
my bat house.  No bats yet!  Anyone know when they tend to move into
bathouses?.

21 responses total.

Bats "explore" potential roosts and hibernation sites primarily in the Fall,
when they participate in an activity called "swarming". The adult bats
take the bats born that spring-summer on a tour of available sites. They
may visit many - though they will choose just one hibernation site. 
However they are also finding roost sites at the same time, and if your box is
acceptable, they may  be back. Is it at least 15 feet up, facing generally
southeast, in the clear (not shadowed by trees), and dark in color, with
multiple internal crevices? 

Oh-Oh! Mine meets all the criteria except it is shadowed by trees.  Is that
a sure stopper?

Here is what the Guidelines from the North American Bat House Research
Project says in regard to temperature prefs in northern US (>40 deg.):

"Always select locations where your houses will receive *at least* five
hours of sun daily in the U.S. and *at least* six or seven in Canada. On
the sides of buildings, try pairs of houses side by side, one dark brown
and one black. On poles, try pairs of dark brown versus black houses
facing east and west or north and south. Black may be best in Canada.
Northern houses are more likely to be too cool than too hot and may do
better without insulation, which impedes rapid solar heating. On tree
trunks, try mounting three houses, all of the same design and dark brown
or black, around the trunk so that one faces southeast, one southwest, and
one north, remembering that at least two should receive five or more hours
of daily sun. Though more difficult, this is also a suitable arrangement
to try on large diameter poles. In last year's observations from the
northern U.S., the average occupied dark brown house received six hours of
daily sun, while the average occupied black house received nine."

These are suggestions for experimentation for the research project, but
they reflect the current state of knowledge on encouraging occupancy.

Sounds worth a try.  I have some old literature which suggested any finish
even on the exterior would keep them away.  It was nowhere as detailed
as the info you cite, so perhaps I will try it.  Thanks again.

Update:  one bat has moved into the McPoz bathouse as of 4/29/95.

Congratulations! If one has, usually more will follow - unless it
is a solitary bat. What species is it?

I don't know.  I think it's a brown bat, but I really don't know how to 
identify different species.  It is about the size of a mouse.  When the sun is
bright, I can shine my watch crystal up the openings and there is one little
critter up there now.  

I asked because therer are solitary bat species, like the red bat or the
hoary bat. The little brown bat usually roosts in groups. There is a
bat title in those little nature paperbacks.

Do you know the size or any major features of the red bat or the hoary bat?
I'll give my bat border a closer inspection & try to look up a picture of
each.  Last year I think there was only one bat roosting also, so perhaps
it is not a little brown bat.  I have done some remodeling on neighboring 
houses and found the same species of bat (as a lone bat) in small spaces 
near soffits.

The red and hoary bats are 3-4 inches, an inch larger than the little
brown. The red bat is red; the hoary bat is hoary ( ;-> black with
silvery hairs throughout its pelt).

Keep posted, I will report after next weekend.

Rane, the bat was absent Saturday, but has returned today (Sunday).  It is
sort of mouse brown color with darker ears and face.  I believe it is a 
brown bat.
/

Now, is it a Big Brown, or a Little Brown? 

Uh Oh!

All I can tell you is that I estimate it to measure up to a standard mouse.

Bat Update:  Well, I have gone all summer with one bat in the bathouse.  He's
still residing there!

Males of the Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat are both solitary in
the summer. They are both found throughout Michigan, but the Little
Brown is more common in Northern MI. Where is your bat house?

It's about 15 ft high on the south (shaded) side of my house.

I meant, what geographic location :).

3 miles Northwest of Dexter, Mi.

Most likely Big Brown. They have a face that some people say looks
like a bulldog, as opposed to the Little Brown, which has a more
extended face. The Littel Brown is usually under 3 inches long, while
the Big Brown is more like 4 inches long or larger. 

Based on your info, I'd agree that this one looks like a Big Brown Bat.

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