Bat House Builder's Handbook [Paperback]

Merlin D. Tuttle (Author), Donna L. Hensley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1994

The definitive source for bat house information. Based on research conducted by BCI, it contains the results from the first-of-its-kind study on bat house occupancy. Includes plans, mounting suggestions, tips for experimentation, research findings, frequently asked bat house questions, and information about bats most likely to use bat houses.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bat Conservation International; Revised edition (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963824864
• ISBN-13: 978-0963824868
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,955,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy BatHouse, Batman!, April 29, 2002

By 

David Lindamood (Cadillac, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bat House Builder's Handbook (Paperback)

Bats have to be one of the most mis-understood critters in the animal world. They are very helpful in controlling the insect level and help promote a healthy environment. Although small in size, 34 pages, this handbook contains several bat house patterns and variations of sizes, hints for successful bat house placement and the results of years of research on actual bat house conditions.

This book was purchased for use in an Eagle Scout project to build bat houses and help educate the community to the helpfulness the bats will bring to the overall environment. Using the guidance of this book, the Eagle Scout project was able to determine the right placement, color and size of the bat houses for the area and ensured a high occupancy rate.

The plans for building the bat house were precise and simple to follow. The Scouts (12-16 year olds) were able to read the plans, purchase the wood, cut the wood and assemble the bat houses without one major problem. AND they were very good looking bat houses as well as very suitable for the future inhabitants. They built 8 nursery bat houses for placement around the local inland lake. Requests to build more bat houses for homeowners use on their own property, might turn this project into an annual fundraising event for the Scouts.

This book contains all the information needed to get started in building a bat house, placement of the bat house and tips to ensure a high occupancy rate of the bat house and some great general information about bats. A GREAT resourse tool!!

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By Far the Best Source of Bat House Plans and Information, March 25, 2000

By 

Dave (Camas, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bat House Builder's Handbook (Paperback)

I've searched the web for bat house plans and information, and found the information to be very spotty and inconsistent. This book reflects the results of Bat Conservation International's "North American Bat House Research Project", which has been collecting data on thousands of bat houses for over 10 years. The book has detailed plans for a small economy house, a large economy house, and a nursery house, plus LOTS of information on bat preferences and ideas for experimentation. I built the nursery-style bat house, and it was occupied last year.

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going Batty? Here's Your Book., June 25, 2000

By 

Al the Pal "Al the Pal" (The Fruited Plain, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bat House Builder's Handbook (Paperback)

This is an excellent source of information on bats as well as their abodes. The book contains the results of years of research on size, color and placement of bathouses. Builders are even invited to participate in ongoing bat research through membership in Bat Conservation International (application card included). There is lots of information on the importance of bats in the environment; their almost insatiable appetite for harmful insects. There is also information on identifying the species of North American bats you may host, including B&W Pictures.

There are detailed plans giving the size and spacing of roosting boards, openings and ventilation of your houses. He gives a source for the netting that you need to cover the roosts with, but I am using the mesh bags from onions as a substitute. I was able to find some dark colored ones that will be appropriate.

My wife is looking forward to collecting guano (poopoo) from under the houses - bat guano is an excellent source of free fertilizer for your porch plants.