****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This bat box is attractive, sturdy, well made, and appears to be properly sealed. An excellent box overall. The telescoping pole, however is woefully insufficient for the size, shape and weight of the bat box which becomes top heavy on the pole once installed. The box sways and in high winds, which we have on our property in WV will likely come tumbling down...bats and all. We dug a 20 inch hole and sunk the pole in concrete for added support. The pole is triangular in shape so be careful to position the plastic white pole sleeve properly to ensure your bat box is pointed in the right direction (SouthEast) - a mistake we made given and the pole instructions don't mention this point (instructions are not that great-the seller might want to consider writing specific instructioins for installing his box with the bat part taken into consideration vs. adding the pole instructions as is).The instructions do say to lower the pole in high winds yet this is a rediculously impractical suggestion given the box is top heavy, diffifult to erect (takes two people and a 15" ladder) and awkard to handle if you are expected to move it up and down frequently. The pole itselt is a light aluminum, telescoping with locking pins to connect each section that is smaller than the other to enable the telescoping. Once fully erected it is flimsly, seems cheap and feels as if it will fall down easily. We had to drill extra holes in the pole to lower it a few feet to try and reduce the swaying. We then added 4 iron stakes and wire at the bottom to tie it down for added stability but the top section of the pole, the narrowest and weakest and where the box is mounted is up above swaying and ratling. I would be careful walking under this thing because if it came down on top of you it could really hurt someone.So overall, the bat box is a great product....foregoe the pole and go for something stronger like a solid pipe or treated 4x4 that is 15-20' tall.
