Bat house could help combat outdoor nuisances

Flooding this year has increased the likelihood of mosquitos being pests, but when they start nibbling, you have options other than pesticides.

In fact, bats are fantastic mosquito munching machines, and you can improve the chances they will hang out near you and your home.

Bats spend much of their wake time feeding. In one night a bat can consume half its body weight in insects. If we did this, an average person would need to eat 340 Big Mac sandwiches.

While every bug they eat is not a mosquito, bats do eat their share of them. Hundreds or even thousands of mosquitos may be consumed by one bat in an hour. Unlike purple martins -- which fly high during the day -- bats fly low where mosquitos fly, and they fly at night when mosquitos are most active. Bats are, hands down, the mosquito combat champions.

So how can you ensure bats show up to eat your mosquitos? While guarantees are hard to come by, you can improve your chances by putting up a bat house. Bat houses are thin boxes that bats crawl into during the day. Painted brown, the house will absorb the sun's rays, providing bats warmth in the winter. A bat house should be placed at least 12 to 20 feet off the ground. Place the house on a pole, or on an existing building such as a house, barn, or any two-story building. Bat houses can even be hung off the side of elevated decks.

One place that will not work is on a tree. Research indicates bats will not use a house on a tree trunk or in tree branches. The reason is that a bat house creates a temperature just right for bats. Placement in direct sunlight helps create a specific temperature that appeals to them. Placing the house in a tree will not result in the appropriate temperature.

Proper bat house placement also includes close proximity to water. Any bat house within a quarter mile of a permanent water source is likely to be used. Close proximity to a pond, lake, creek or river is necessary for bats. Consider carefully where water is located before you erect your bat house. People who reside in downtown Cape Girardeau can rely upon the Mississippi and put up a bat house with confidence that the bugs and water are close enough to attract bats.

Homes in rural areas are seldom far from a creek or farm pond but evaluate your bat house location carefully nonetheless. You can build a bat house with designs available from MDC online (www.conservation.state.mo.us), or from the regional MDC at 290-5730. Material will cost between $20 and $60, depending on size.

Bat Conservation International (www.batcon.org) has alternative designs and preconstructed houses available online. Home and garden centers are also a good source of pre-made bat houses.

Big brown bats, little brown bats and red bats are likely to occupy a bat house. House construction can ensure these bats are always common.

Hanging a bat house is an environmentally sound and inexpensive method for mosquito control. It is also very effective. Consider that alternative methods like bug zappers kill very few mosquitos, and chemical foggers are neutralized by sunlight each morning. So if you intend to fully enjoy your outdoor experiences, think about a bat house.

The bats will reward your efforts by keeping mosquito populations in check. In the process, you will be a part of active bat conservation.

A. J. Hendershott is the outreach and education regional supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation.