How to Attract Bats to Your Yard (and Why You'd Want To)

 

Imagine the following: It's getting dark, the birds have stopped chirping, and you spot a bat flying past your window. In any backyard or garden, bats can be an interesting and useful addition. How do you draw them in, though? 

 

 Good news: there are a few easy steps you can take to guarantee a steady stream of bat visitors. But let's first talk about why having bats around is a good idea. Bats are important pollinators and aid in controlling insect populations. In fact, some species help fertilize their roosting habitats with guano (bat poop), and some can consume up to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single hour. 

 

 This article will show you how to make your yard a great place for bats to live and how to invite them into your life. Everything will be covered, from unique feeding stations to man-made roosts. 

 

A brief overview of bats

 That's right—we're talking about bats! Although they're frequently misunderstood, these winged mammals are actually really beneficial for nature, so if you love the outdoors, why not invite a few animal guests into your own backyard? In actuality, bats can be a wonderful addition to your outdoor area. 

 

 First, it's crucial to understand the type of habitat bats prefer in order to figure out how to draw them in. They prefer open areas with a lot of trees and vegetation because these areas offer them shelter and food sources like fruit and insects. As they offer secure places to roost, constructing or hanging bat houses will also aid in luring them nearby. To draw particular species, such as the Mexican long-tongued bat or the lesser long-nosed bat, you can also plant nectar-producing flowers in your garden. Finally, including a water feature like a pond or birdbath will assist in keeping them hydrated during the sweltering summer months! 

 

 The advantages of having bats around

 You probably don't know you need bats, but they are an underutilized gardening aid that you should have nearby. What then can you do to entice the little guys to your yard? 

 

 Acknowledging the benefits of having bats in your garden is the first step. To begin with, they help keep your yard free of insects by eating bothersome insects like mosquitoes and moths. In order to encourage the growth of self-sustaining vegetation, they also spread seeds and pollinate flowers. Additionally, unlike some other flying predators, bats have a low risk of disease transmission due to their territorial behavior, and they may even be useful in reducing the spread of diseases carried by mosquitoes. 

 

 It's simpler than you might imagine to entice bats to live in your outdoor area. Start by giving them access to food sources, such as shrubs and trees that draw insects, and hiding spots, like bark or crevices in walls or trees that they can use as shelter. Another efficient way to give them roosting locations close to your home is to install nesting boxes or bat houses. On particularly warm days, you can even give them water to drink. 

 

 Things That Draw Bats

 You can take a few steps to make your yard a desirable habitat for bats because they are actually quite picky about where they live. 

 

 Install a bat box: Bats need a warm, secure place to roost, so a bat box gives them just that. Place the box near trees or other structures and try to keep it out of direct sunlight. It should be about 8 to 15 feet off the ground. 

 

 Plant native flowers: Bats adore berry-producing plants like blueberries, grapes, elderberries, or wild strawberries, as well as nectar-producing flowers like lavender or honeysuckle. A great benefit of planting native flowers is that they will draw local insect species, which are a vital source of food for bats. 

 

 Make a water supply because bats require it to hydrate after their exhausting food hunts. If you want to keep it simple, place a shallow pan filled with water (preferably close to some vegetation) near your bat box instead of installing a birdbath, fountain, or other water feature. 

 

 Once you've completed these steps, just relax and wait until you notice bats flying around in your yard.

Establishing the Perfect Bat Habitat. 
 Here are some ways you can improve your backyard so that bats find it more enticing and inviting:. 
 

 Shelter

 Providing areas of shelter is essential because bats need places to rest during the day. Consider putting in tall grasses, trees, and shrubs so they have a place to nest. Additionally, think about constructing or purchasing bat houses, which offer protected roosting locations. Just make sure they are positioned with their south or southeast-facing sides on a tree trunk, pole, or other stable surface at least ten feet off the ground. 
 

 Water

 If you have or can create a pond in your yard, that's great; if not, provide shallow dishes of water (at least two inches deep). In shady areas of the yard, set the dishes down on the ground. Make sure to keep them clean and to daily fill them with new water. 
 

 Food

 Last but not least, bats require insects for food. Planting herbs like dill and flowers like honeysuckle can draw bugs from the neighborhood, which will draw bats. If you can replace pesticides with natural alternatives like beneficial nematodes and insecticidal soap, do so. Pesticides can kill the insects that bats rely on for food. 
 

 Bat Food Resources

 Bats can eat anything from insects and bugs to nectar and pollen. A few factors should be taken into account if you want to draw bats to your yard. 
 

 Insects

 Since insects make up a significant portion of a bat's diet, it's crucial to make your yard appealing to these tiny creatures. Incorporate plant-based birdfeeders or try planting plants that attract insects, like chives or yarrow. You can also include water features like ponds or birdbaths; the standing water will draw insects and frogs, which will serve as a snack for our avian friends. 
 

Pollen and nectar

 Other foods consumed by some bat species include the nectar and pollen that particular vegetation-rich areas produce. Planting flowers like honeysuckle or daisies close to your home can promote this behavior because they produce an abundance of sweet nectar that bats find to be the perfect snack. 
 
 You don't have to be an expert gardener to entice bats; all it takes is providing the right environment with plants and food sources for them to visit your yard. 
 
 Guidelines for Safely Bringing Bats into Your Yard. 
 You can use the following advice if you want to draw bats to your yard but are concerned about how to do so safely:. 
 
 Place a bat house close to your yard. These naturally attract bats, so building one and placing it close to your yard may attract a colony of them. Make sure the bat house is in a sunny, open area, at least 10-15 feet above the ground. 
 
 Monitor the indoor temperature in your bat house. Make sure your bat house is not getting too hot or cold throughout the day by checking the temperature frequently. A bat's preferred temperature range is between 80 and 90°F. 
 
 Avoid using pesticides that could harm bats. Try to find alternative pest control techniques that won't harm these important animals since pesticides can kill both bugs and bats. 
 
 You can find a long list of plants online that attract bugs like night-flying moths, which are natural food sources for bats, so plant native flowers and plants that are attractive to bugs, which in turn will attract bats looking for an easy meal. 
 
 Bats help control insect populations by eating up to 1,000 mosquitoes per hour, and they also play a significant role in spreading seeds from fruit-bearing plants through their droppings, also known as guano, which fertilize plants and promote new growth when spread on soil. By following these easy tips, you will be able to attract more bats to your yard, and why wouldn't you want that? 
 

 Conclusion

 There are several steps you can take to attract bats if you want to turn your yard into a haven for them. Planting plants like poison ivy or night-scented flowers is a good place to start if you want to attract bats. You can also give bats roosting boxes or install bat houses in your yard. Encourage swallows and other insect-eating birds to visit your yard as well, as bats will probably follow. 
 
 You shouldn't worry if you're still unsure of how to get bats to come to your yard. Simply by creating a conducive environment for bats, you can contribute to the preservation of this significant species. The effort is worthwhile because bats are good pest predators and have a significant ecological impact. You can enjoy a clean, bug-free yard and contribute to preserving the delicate ecological balance of our planet by creating a bat-friendly habitat.