Tyler Wynn
Bats are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. If you're interested in attracting bats to your backyard, there are several methods you can try that go beyond just sound. Creating a welcoming habitat is key, and this includes providing a safe water source with an unobstructed swoop zone for bats to hydrate easily. Installing a bat house in an ideal location, such as the side of a building, can also make bats feel at home and provide shelter for raising their young. Additionally, planting native flowers that bloom at night can attract insects, which in turn can lure bug-eating bats to your garden. While using sound to attract bats is rarely effective, devices like the Echo Meter Touch 2 bat detector can help you hear and identify ultrasonic bat calls, offering a unique way to learn more about these nocturnal creatures.
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What You'll Learn
- Playing a bat in distress might attract aggressive hoary bats
- Avoid pesticides and plant flowers that attract insects for food
- Install a bat house, ideally attached to a building structure
- Provide an unobstructed water source with a 7-10 foot 'swoop zone'
- Use a bat detector to identify and learn about the species you attract
Playing a bat in distress might attract aggressive hoary bats
While it is possible to lure bats with sound, it is rarely effective and should only be done with good reason. Bats are small nocturnal mammals that use echolocation to navigate and hunt for food at night. They emit a series of ultrasonic sounds (above 20 kHz) beyond the human range of hearing. They also make vocalizations to communicate, which typically sound like squeaking or chittering sounds. These sounds are most audible at dusk or dawn when bats are most active.
Hoary bats, in particular, are known to be aggressive. They have been observed attacking and harassing bats that are caught in mist nets. Therefore, playing the recorded sounds of a bat in distress might attract aggressive hoary bats. However, it is unclear if they would respond to a recording, as they may be able to differentiate it from a genuine distress call.
Some people have successfully used recordings of bat calls to attract certain species, such as the little brown myotis. These bats may be attracted out of curiosity or territoriality. However, it is important to note that this practice is controversial, as it encourages bats to expend energy unnecessarily.
Additionally, while bats do make distress vocalizations, these sounds are not within the typical human hearing range. Bat distress calls have been recorded with amplitude fluctuations at rates of ~1.7 kHz, which is over ten times faster than the fluctuations found in human screams. Therefore, any recording of bat distress calls played by humans may not be effective in attracting bats.
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Avoid pesticides and plant flowers that attract insects for food
Attracting bats to your garden or outdoor space is a great way to promote the conservation of these fascinating creatures. Bats are important pollinators of many plants, including the agave that tequila is made from. They also play a crucial role in pest control, maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystems.
To attract bats, it is important to avoid pesticides, as these can harm the bats and the insects they feed on. Instead, opt for organic compost and mulch, which will attract a variety of insects for the bats to feast on.
Planting native flowers and plants is an excellent way to provide a food source for bats. Native plants attract exponentially more insects than non-natives, and insects are the favorite food of most bats in the eastern U.S. Native plants have evolved with bats, creating a harmonious and interdependent relationship.
Some specific plant recommendations include:
- Oenothera biennis, an evening primrose variety, native to North America, with purple, yellow, or white flowers that attract moths and bees.
- White jasmine (also called pink jasmine), an evergreen climber with fragrant, star-shaped pink to white flowers, native to southwestern China. It attracts smaller butterflies and moths, as well as bees, wasps, and some flies that are prey to many bat species.
- Yarrow, which is common in temperate regions and attracts beneficial insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and hoverflies.
- Honeysuckle, which provides food for long-tongued insects like moths and butterflies.
- Pale blue and white-colored flowers, which are easier for bats to see in low light, so they will attract more night-flying insects.
- Night-scented flowers, which will also help attract nocturnal insects, a favorite meal for bats.
In addition to providing an abundance of insect food, you can make your outdoor space even more welcoming to bats by installing a bat house, which provides a cozy spot for them to roost during the day, and by adding a water feature, such as a small pond, for drinking and foraging for aquatic insects.
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Install a bat house, ideally attached to a building structure
Installing a bat house is a great way to attract bats, and attaching it to a building structure is ideal. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
First, consider the design of the bat house. It should have 3/4-inch-wide roosting chambers, open bottoms, rough surfaces, vents, solid roofs, and landing pads. You can build your own or purchase one, but make sure any pre-made design is certified by Bat Conservation International. Avoid painting your bat house dark colours; instead, opt for lighter shades like tan or grey, using water-based exterior paint. Alternatively, you can leave it unpainted and seal it with a water-based clear finish.
Next, consider the location. Bat houses should be mounted about 12-20 feet above the ground and positioned 20-30 feet away from tree lines, other structures, and obstacles. While bat houses can be mounted on wooden posts, steel poles, or pivot poles, attaching them to the sides of buildings is ideal. Avoid mounting on trees, as branches and vegetation can obstruct bats' flight paths. Houses mounted under the eaves of wood or stone buildings provide protection from rain and predators while still allowing for sun exposure, which is essential. If you're installing a single-chamber bat house, a building structure is the best choice unless you can install two back-to-back.
When attaching the bat house to a building, ensure it receives 6-8 hours of morning sun. Afternoon shade is beneficial, especially in warmer climates. The bat house should be in an open area with good solar exposure, but it can benefit from some shade during the hottest parts of the day.
Finally, consider installing multiple bat houses or using a design with three or four chambers to provide more roosting options for the bats, increasing thermal stability and wider temperature gradients.
By following these instructions, you can effectively attract bats by installing a bat house attached to a building structure.
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Provide an unobstructed water source with a 7-10 foot 'swoop zone'
Water is essential for bats, especially in areas experiencing drought. Bats cannot land to drink; instead, they scoop up water while flying. Therefore, they require an unobstructed "swoop zone" to access water safely.
You can attract bats by providing an open water source with a minimum of 7 to 10 feet of clear space, free from obstructions such as tree branches, fencing, and wires. This allows bats to manoeuvre and drink safely. A pond, trough, or pool can provide the necessary unobstructed space for bats to access water.
It is important to maintain the water source by regularly changing the water or treating it to prevent mosquito larvae. Bats are valuable for natural pest control, as they feed on insects, including mosquitoes, caterpillars, and grubs. By providing a water source, you not only help bats but also benefit from their presence in your garden.
In addition to water, bats are attracted to areas with abundant food sources, such as insects, and shelter. Planting native flowers and plants that bloom at night can attract insects and nectar-feeding bats. Providing shelter, such as bat houses or leaving dead trees (if safe), can also make bats feel at home and help them raise their young.
By considering the needs of bats for water, food, and shelter, you can create a welcoming habitat in your backyard that benefits both you and these fascinating creatures.
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Use a bat detector to identify and learn about the species you attract
Bat detectors are an effective way to identify and learn about bat species. Bats emit calls with specific characteristics related to their size, flight behaviour, environment, and prey types. These calls are usually pitched at a higher frequency than humans can hear, but they can be heard or recorded using a bat detector.
There are three types of "real-time" audio bat detectors in common use: the heterodyne, frequency division, and time expansion. The heterodyne detector is the least expensive and easiest to use, but it has a narrow frequency conversion range and must be continually retuned. It also does not provide very accurate measurements of bat call frequencies due to the Doppler shift. The super-heterodyne detector is a better quality version of the heterodyne detector, providing improved frequency discrimination and avoiding interference from the local oscillator.
Frequency division (FD) detectors are more advanced, analysing and re-synthesising bat calls at a fraction of their original frequency, making them audible. They do not require manual tuning and can preserve the entire call for later study. However, they may produce anomalies with sounds of a random structure and can only process periodic or tonal calls. Some FD detectors output a constant-level signal, rendering background noise and bat calls at the same high level.
Time expansion detectors are another option, providing precise frequency measurements, but they are beyond the scope of this discussion. It is also possible to modify a portable Long Wave radio to function as a bat detector by adjusting tuning frequencies and replacing the ferrite rod aerial with a microphone and pre-amplifier.
With these tools, you can identify and learn about the species of bats you attract, gaining insights into their behaviour and characteristics.
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Frequently asked questions
You can attract bats to your backyard by installing a bat house and planting flowers that attract insects for them to feed on.
The bat house should be attached to a building structure 15-20 feet above the ground, with no overhang, balcony, or roof blocking the path beneath the bat house. The side of a house, barn, or shed is ideal.
Plant flowers that are native to your area and stay open at night or bloom in the evening.
While it is possible to use sound to attract bats, it is not recommended as it may be ineffective and may disrupt their natural behaviour.
