Go Batty!

Why would you want to invite bats into your yard?

Simple! They eat insects—lots and lots of insects. They'll help keep bugs from bugging you. And, they're fun to watch, too.

How do you invite bats to the neighborhood?

Put up a bat house!

Bat-House Tips:

• You can build your own bat house or buy one.
• Visit Bat Conservation International online at www.batcon.org for ideas, building plans, and ready-made houses.
• Mount the house on a building or pole, not on a tree. (Bats usually avoid houses on trees.)
• Be sure the bat house isn't lit by bright lights at night.
• Hang the house in a sunny place. Bats need warm temperatures.
• Paint it black or a dark color to absorb heat.
• Put up the house by early spring, so that bats will find it by summer.
• If bats don't move in during the first year, don't give up! They may come next year or the next.