How can I build a bat house?
by
TW
If I build it:
A. Will they come eat enough mosquitos to make a difference?
B. Will they harm all of the birds I feed?
C. How do I build one?
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Bat houses are great. I have not built one , however, someone close to my residence has built one. Its a large thin birdhouse like contraption. covered in tarpaper with small width slits sawed into one side vertically. My mosquito issues are fewer and it has had no effect on the birds that I feed.
Bats are insectivores meaning they do eat bugs like mosquitoes but they are also opportunistic eaters meaning they will eat what is in abundance and what is best for them. You might introduce them to your backyard but they might choose to eat a moth which is higher in nutrition over a mosquito. Experiments have not shown that bats significantly help reduce mosquito populations.
If you're looking for a natural alternative to control those mosquito pests, I'd suggest a citronella candle or even just having a fan around (they are weak fliers so a fan will easily repel them).