Maintenance and Sustainability

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Maintaining a bat house is crucial to ensuring it continues to provide a safe home for bats.  We have done little maintenance since I put up our bat house almost five years ago, and sadly, you can see the results.  

From my research and lessons learned, proper maintenance involves several essential steps to help prolong the life and sustainability of your bat house. During the winter, when bats are less likely to be in the bat house, they should undergo a thorough inspection. This annual inspection should look for damage or wear, particularly around the roof seams. Also, look for any area that may allow for water penetration into the bat house.  Applying fresh repair caulk and paint over all seams is often necessary to maintain the house's integrity and ensure water penetration does not cause any additional wood decay. 

Also, be careful, as a bat house can become a nest for wasps and hornets. If a nest is present in your bat house, it should be removed when bats are not present, typically during the winter months.

Lastly, the bat house design I have included should be self-cleaning for bat poop (guano). But you should still check to see if there is any build-up on the bottom of the bat house. Ensuring the bat house is in good condition each year and free from potential rot, leaks, or hazards is critical to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for bats.