Bat House in backyard - pros/cons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nervous alarmists on this Board. Rabies? Nearly 40% (of an already pretty low number of rabies cases) are from raccoons: http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/statistics-on-rabies.html
If you're going to get worked up, be informed before you do.

Bat houses DO work if they are set up to succeed (they need proper placement to get the amount of sun they need at certain times of day). Check out sites like the bat conservancy or speak to you local park authority (as we had done). We had a bat house to set up but didn't have the proper exposure for it (I think they need morning sun, I recall.)

As for the neighbors, it's your yard. You're not going to please everyone. And, as long as the bats are not harming them or their property, end of story.

So, 40% of rabies is from raccoons. But I don't have a neighbor raising them next door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bats do not all have rabies. You are more likely to have a rabid racoon in your neighborhood. My dh and kids just built a bat house this morning. We live in Arlington. All of our neighbors are excited to have the bats. Placement of the house should be that the droppings fall in an area away from your vegatable garden. I would vote for having one.

I live in Arlington, and I would definitely not be excited about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nervous alarmists on this Board. Rabies? Nearly 40% (of an already pretty low number of rabies cases) are from raccoons: http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/statistics-on-rabies.html
If you're going to get worked up, be informed before you do.

Bat houses DO work if they are set up to succeed (they need proper placement to get the amount of sun they need at certain times of day). Check out sites like the bat conservancy or speak to you local park authority (as we had done). We had a bat house to set up but didn't have the proper exposure for it (I think they need morning sun, I recall.)

As for the neighbors, it's your yard. You're not going to please everyone. And, as long as the bats are not harming them or their property, end of story.

So, 40% of rabies is from raccoons. But I don't have a neighbor raising them next door.

I don't raise racoons, per se... but I do feed them from time to time. They get hungry. I suppose you'd probably get mad about that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nervous alarmists on this Board. Rabies? Nearly 40% (of an already pretty low number of rabies cases) are from raccoons: http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/statistics-on-rabies.html
If you're going to get worked up, be informed before you do.

Great, most bats don't have rabies, we get it. But your doctor won't be able to tell whether the particular bat that bit you or your kids was one of the 1% (or whatever) of bats that DO have rabies. So whoever gets bitten (admittedly low probability, but still there) is going to have to do the full course of rabies shots regardless. The good news here is that even if the bat was from the 1% of bats that have rabies, it's now cured. But meanwhile, somebody still had to do the course of rabies shots, was the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nervous alarmists on this Board. Rabies? Nearly 40% (of an already pretty low number of rabies cases) are from raccoons: http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/statistics-on-rabies.html
If you're going to get worked up, be informed before you do.

Bat houses DO work if they are set up to succeed (they need proper placement to get the amount of sun they need at certain times of day). Check out sites like the bat conservancy or speak to you local park authority (as we had done). We had a bat house to set up but didn't have the proper exposure for it (I think they need morning sun, I recall.)

As for the neighbors, it's your yard. You're not going to please everyone. And, as long as the bats are not harming them or their property, end of story.

So, 40% of rabies is from raccoons. But I don't have a neighbor raising them next door.

I don't raise racoons, per se... but I do feed them from time to time. They get hungry. I suppose you'd probably get mad about that too.

There is another thread on that. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/165555.page Raccoons should not be trained to approach people. Any naturalist will tell you that.

[Anonymous]

PP, we get it, you have a bat house and think its the greatest. We have a neighbor who also thinks it is the greatest. She either is not that bright, did not do proper research, or both, as it is a useless eyesore. If it does not work OP, be considerate enough to take it down. Be considerate. I know that is a novel concept in some places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, PP here. YOu will not get bitten by a bat. There are SO many irrational alarmists here, its crazy. A bat house will not attract bats like you think it will, however. I know bats.

Are you kidding? I read of a child dying of rabies contracted from a bat within the last year or two. It's rare, but it happens, and bat teeth are so small that sometimes people don't realize they've been bitten.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/RabiesAndKids/

[Anonymous]

19:24 - that was an attempt at humor. Yes, I was referencing the crazy racoon feeder thread.

I don't really feed the racoons. Oh, and I'm the OP whose DH wants a bat cave.

Oddly - less than a year ago, I walked up to my front porch and a racoon was quietly curled up in my mulch bed. I initally thought "oh, there's a racoon right there, interesting..." and it took a minute for me to fully process the situation.

Wait a minute, there SHOULD NOT be an awake racoon lazing around in my mulch bed in the middle of the day? We called animal services and they euthanized her in my driveway. I lied and told the kids they were taking her to the park.

[Anonymous]

Didn't bother reading, but teach your child not to go near a bat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nervous alarmists on this Board. Rabies? Nearly 40% (of an already pretty low number of rabies cases) are from raccoons: http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/statistics-on-rabies.html
If you're going to get worked up, be informed before you do.

Bat houses DO work if they are set up to succeed (they need proper placement to get the amount of sun they need at certain times of day). Check out sites like the bat conservancy or speak to you local park authority (as we had done). We had a bat house to set up but didn't have the proper exposure for it (I think they need morning sun, I recall.)

As for the neighbors, it's your yard. You're not going to please everyone. And, as long as the bats are not harming them or their property, end of story.

So, 40% of rabies is from raccoons. But I don't have a neighbor raising them next door.

A bat house is not "raising" bats. As you well know.

And the chances of you being bitten are very small and usually occur if one gets inside a house (the home is not sealed/maintained properly.) A quick search on the internet or talk with someone knowledgeable will show you this easily.

So you are being alarmist for no real reason.

[Anonymous]

Ewww...gross. Get a frickin hobby.

[Anonymous]

We grew up with many bats (many trees) and have had them in the house before. They really don't care if you live there or not. And they are quite good at playing dead. I really don't think they have any interest in a man made house which would never be placed high enough for them. But watch the know it alls do their thing and viola - instant entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We grew up with many bats (many trees) and have had them in the house before. They really don't care if you live there or not. And they are quite good at playing dead. I really don't think they have any interest in a man made house which would never be placed high enough for them. But watch the know it alls do their thing and viola - instant entertainment.

Forgive me, but you bat defenders (and I like bats too!) are so abrasive that you come off as defensive. Own it, be comfortable with it! And show a little love to people who are learning.

I actually like bats, but watching you guys go after any suggestion of rabies or bites like, excuse me, a bat out of hell, is entertaining.

(and, viola?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We grew up with many bats (many trees) and have had them in the house before. They really don't care if you live there or not. And they are quite good at playing dead. I really don't think they have any interest in a man made house which would never be placed high enough for them. But watch the know it alls do their thing and viola - instant entertainment.

OR, just saying, we could read the instructions on installing bat houses from the Virginia Cooperative Extension, which encourages you to caulk any hole bigger than 1/4" x 1/2" because that's all a bat needs to get inside.

[Anonymous]

I have a bat house. Never noticed any bat droppings, and yes, bats live there. We live in a townhouse and my neighbors have never complained (and they would).

It took two years for the bats to move in, but you have to set it up in a successful place. As PPs have suggested, do your research. Bats are great. They're mammals that do nothing all night but eat mosquitoes and take care of their babies.