****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
History: I used to have many bats flying in the area. Over the last 30 years the numbers have dropped dramatically. Now, I have but one bat that shows up to the gable vent at my house. I read about the subject and found that the numbers are dangerously low. And when one considers that one bat at night can eat multiple thousands of mosquitoes, mosquitoes that transmit diseases, I felt I had to do something. read about bats and their importance from numerous sites on the web, and decided to purchase a bat house manufactured by a bat organization that contributes funds to help preserve bats... our furry flying friends.Construction: This item is designed by "bat people" who have worked with the critters for many years and understand their modes of existence. The houses are constructed of sturdy thick cedar plywood to help prevent rotting. Bats also need something to cling on to, and to climb into the house. This is provided by grid matting on the front and inside the house. The bats need circulation. This is provided by a small slit in the front that allows for air to enter where the bat can move to if feeling too warm. The house has verticality to allow the bats to move up to get warmer and down to allow them to get cooler. There is a very small opening at the bottom of the house; enough to let bats in but keep other predators out.Pricing:I, originally, was going to build the house myself, and would have enjoyed it, but the cost to build it from parts I purchased, was not much of a savings, and besides, the bat organization will use the purchase price to help other injured bats. The Organization for Bat Conservation builds this one.Additions: I live in the NE and with little exposure to the sun. Bats love warm environments. To help the house get at a warmer temperature earlier in the day, I coated the top 6 inches with tar paper, hoping that the sun will warm this area, leaving the bottom area cooler where the bats can go if they need to get cooled down.I just installed the house on a tree at a height of about 10 feet. I will amend this review if bats show up to nest.
