The list of factors that make life difficult for bats – in the truest sense of the word – has become longer and longer in recent years: the focus is not only on climate change, which means that young animals in particular die in the hotter summer months before they can reach them leave nest. Wind turbines also pose an increasing threat to nocturnal animals. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, they also lack food sources such as insects (especially moths) due to the widespread use of pesticides. Unfortunately, we have little to no influence on most points. However, you can still support bats by providing them with new shelter options. You can find out how this works as follows.
The breeding season of many bat species begins between March and April, making spring the ideal time to install a nesting box. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on a tree or on a house wall – but it’s important that you consider the following points before installation:
Important: When assembling, ensure that the bat box is securely and firmly attached. If the nesting site falls down, you endanger people and animals alike.
Another tip: Flat bat boxes that open at the bottom usually do not need to be cleaned. If you still want to try it, choose the time so that the animals are neither busy raising their offspring nor hibernating. Be sure to follow the current bans on disturbances set out in Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG).
As already mentioned, bats are threatened with extinction – caused by an increasing lack of food and habitat. To support species protection, you can take further measures (in addition to installing suitable nesting boxes): Since the animals rest during the day, nocturnal insects are primarily on their menu. To attract them to your home garden, you can plant plants that bloom at night, such as catchfly and evening primrose. But fish herbs such as mint, sage and lemon balm are also real insect magnets. When it comes to purchasing insect-friendly trees, buddleia or hawthorn are useful for providing more food sources for insects and therefore bats.
Since bats don’t have high demands on their place of refuge, you can do it yourself: All you need to build a summer or winter quarters are the following utensils: a few wooden boards that are at least two centimeters thick and eco-certified, as well Wood screws, a jigsaw and a cordless screwdriver, a drill and a wood file, a brush and linseed oil, a ruler or tape measure and a pencil. The Nature Conservation Association of Germany (NABU for short) explains step by step in this understandable video how this becomes a stable bat box, including a flight path for easier vertical landings:
Note: You can download the corresponding construction instructions here.
Sources: NABU, bat protection, German Wildlife Foundation
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