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How To Make Rocket Box Bat Houses for Your Backyard

January 13, 2024

So everyone knows that we need to save the bees.  And pollinators too.  But what are all the pollinators? Well, the list is long, and it does include lots of butterflies, but it also includes bats.

Bats are fascinating. To watch their jagged flight patterns as they dart and dive for mosquito food is a fascinating way to spend an early summer evening.  They don’t come out until the light is low, so you only really see their shadowed outline, but you can tell what they are by the way they flap (much jerkier than a bird) and their jumpy flight.

Urbana illinois bat house project
Bats have been in serious decline due to disease (you can read more about White Nose Syndrome here) and pesticide use (taking away their food source).

There are efforts to control the spread of the disease around major bat caves and areas where scientists have identified an issue. These areas where there are large bat populations are particularly prone to disease infestation due to the sheer size and quantity of bats.

One answer to the crisis is to create many small bat houses. Since bats depend on each other’s body heat to warm their summer roosts, artificial roosts can be warmed efficiently by just a few bats and may help the populations recover.

There are plenty of inexpensive bat houses available online that will get you started with helping out the bats in your area.  But this one caught my eye with its more interesting design.

A blue box on top of a pole, designed specifically for bat houses.
A bat rocket box, also known as a bat house, is a structure designed to provide shelter for bats. These boxes are typically installed in outdoor areas and can help attract bats to your yard. Bats are beneficial for controlling insect populations. Constructed with specific features like roosting chambers and ventilation, bat rocket boxes offer a safe and comfortable environment for about 40 of these nocturnal creatures.


How to Build a Two-chamber Rocket Box Bat House

You can build it yourself with plans found on Bat Conservation International’s website. (this is a link to a downloadable .pdf – these are free DIY plans to make a two-chamber rocket box bat house).  If this one doesn’t strike you as much as it does me, you can also find other bat house plans.

Three men standing next to a pole with bat houses in a field.
A bat house design generally consists of a wooden structure with multiple chambers for roosting. Placement is crucial. It should be mounted 10-20 feet high on a pole or building. Ventilation slots and a dark-colored exterior aid in temperature regulation. Maintaining a south/southeast exposure ensures optimal warmth.

You might also take inspiration from the Let’s Remake group in Urbana, Illinois.  These pictures are from a group project where they made and installed a half dozen bat houses in their neighborhood.  Community efforts like this tend to be more effective than individual efforts as you build a little momentum within the community (of bats) and can more quickly re-establish a healthy population.

Why do you need more bats in your Ecosystem and Garden?

Bats are pollinators like bees and butterflies – they make sure other plants grow and develop properly.

Bats eat mosquitos and lots of other insets. They help restore the natural inset balance – without pesticides.

Like Birds – they help disperse seeds for native plants.

And lastly – the poop – It is called guano, and it is an excellent fertilizer. It typically contains 10 percent nitrogen, three percent phosphorous, and one percent potassium. It lasts a long time in the soil, and it’s particularly beneficial to your flowers, ornamentals, herbs, and veggies.

A blue pole with bat houses in the middle of a grassy field.
A single bat can eat up to 1200 mosquitos and other insects per hour (8000/ in a night) and are excellent helpers for making your garden more livable.
Urban illinois bat house project

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How to make a modern bat box for your garden
Looking to build a rocket box bat house? Get step-by-step DIY instructions with these Free Downloadable plans. Utilizing cutting-edge design, the plans ensure a cozy, safe haven for bats while promoting natural pest control. Construct your ideal bat house easily and contribute to conservation efforts.

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THE 7-STEP SYSTEM TO DESIGN A

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  1. John says:

    I’ve never even heard of a bat house before! This is such a neat idea. I sadly don’t have the space for one of these, but I’d gladly build one if I did.

    • Rochelle says:

      There are plenty of smaller ones – like the size of a small mailbox – that are also easy and helpful ( I just liked the look of this bigger one)

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