All native bat species are now on the endangered species list. Many of them live predominantly or even exclusively in tree cavities. Since hollow trees are being cleared more and more frequently for various reasons, they can hardly find suitable hiding places. By hanging bat boxes in your own garden, you can provide a home for these animals, which are very important to the ecosystem, and give homeless bats a welcome home.
Bats like to accept boxes
The construction is quite simple and can be easily managed by not so experienced do-it-yourselfers. Our box is designed in such a way that it is only attractive to bats, since the narrow entrance and the lack of a seat discourages birds from nesting.
Material list:
The wood used should be 20 to 25 mm thick and rough-sawn. You need the following items:
| kind | Quantity | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| roof | 1 | 30x10cm |
| back panel | 1 | 40x25cm |
| side walls | 2 | 4 x 2 x 33cm |
| front wall | 1 | 33x25cm |
| entry bar | 1 | 21x2cm |
| suspension rail | 1 | 4 x 2 x 70cm |
| tar paper | 1 remainder | sufficient to coat the top of the box |
Saw out the parts very precisely, as the animals are very sensitive to drafts.
Tool List:
- Drill (diameter 3.5mm)
- Phillips screwdriver
- chisel
- wood glue or putty
- Matching non-rusting screws
- linseed oil
building instructions
Use the chisel to dig upstanding wooden sheds into the inside of the front, back, and side walls. Alternatively, you can saw horizontal cracks in the boards. This allows the bats to cling better and find sufficient support.
Now it's time to assemble:
- First screw the side panels to the rear panel.
- Screw this to the front panel.
- File off any overhangs so that the roof can be put on without any gaps.
- If there are still cracks, be sure to fill them with wood putty or glue.
- Fasten the entry strip to the lower inside edge in such a way that an entrance gap of about two centimeters remains. This should not be smaller, but also not larger than 2.5 centimeters, so that no birds can get into the box.
- Screw on the suspension bar.
- Cover the top of the box with tar paper. This serves to isolate and protect against foraging woodpeckers.
- Finally, impregnate the bat box with linseed oil so that no moisture penetrates the wood.
Make absolutely sure that no screws protrude into the interior where the animals could injure themselves.
How is the box attached?
Find a place for the bat box where you can screw it securely. It must not wobble even when a stronger wind blows. The entry lane must be clear for the animals to accept the new home.
tips
Only clean the dwelling in winter. Since a slot remains in the floor through the entry strip, the dirt of the occupants falls out by itself. If you want to check the stocking in the summer months, you can shine a weak flashlight in during the day. Please do not disturb the bats unnecessarily.