Building a 4-Chamber Nursery Bat Box: How-To Guide - Nature Alberta, Urban Nature Initiative

Create a safe, bat-friendly space in your own yard by building a bat house! Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a four-chamber bat nursery, which makes a great roosting spot for species like the big brown bat and the endangered little brown myotis. Follow along with the printed instructions, including materials and tools list and cutting diagrams, available for download at naturealberta.ca/support-urba...

[@bccommunitybatprogram4954]

New bat box guidance (2023) now recommends 'do not stain the inside of the bat box'. And in warmer regions, stain the outside of the bat box a medium shade, not black or bats get too hot.

[@YoYoBobbyJoe]

This is a fantastic tutorial! The plans I have from a different website are a little bit confusing, but this really helps clear it up a lot.

[@dougjonnaebel5704]

A couple of comments on the design. Make sure the roof line is definitely long enough to fit over the entire top of the box. If your plywood or measurements are off even by 1/8" or if you are unable to get an exact 25 degree angle on the cuts, it will not fit. Measure twice, cut once. Also, ensure that if you cut the ridges into the backboard and are gluing it to the side pieces, make sure that your caulking fills all of the little grooves so that there is no light that can get through. We were surprised to see how much light got through - even with the spacers in place. If you plan on mounting the bat box on a post, you may want to drill and put threaded rods through the back board before you complete assembly. Finally, because your interior partition is made out of 3/8" ply, we decided to make the grooves only 1/16th inch deep. That is plenty deep without compromising the strength and integrity of the plywood.

[@Gigachadly]

My barn houses a bunch of bats they live in between the door panel. This year My barn collapsed so I'm gonna build a few of these houses for them to move into while I rebuild the barn.

[@mikejessmax]

Very confusing build since the online tutorial and the printable instructions call for different measurements.

[@wagontrack]

Not to be a wet blanket but I wouldn't paint the inside. I doubt you will get any bats due to the paint smell. otherwise good video.

[@MegaJuniorJones]

Correct. Do not paint inside.

[@blumaxsantos9232]

In the inside ,is one inch enough or more?please enlighten me thank you.

[@NHWildlife]

Chamber spacing in this plan is 3/4 inch (1 inch is also fine). Full plans here - naturealberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/NA_UNI_BatBoxDIY-1.pdf

[@shawndubay4050]

We have big brown bats where we live and I'm wondering if what would be best for the chambers for these bigger bats. I don't know if three quarters of an inch would be to tight or if they like that.

[@bccommunitybatprogram4954]

1" spacing is better for larger bat species like Big Browns. @@shawndubay4050

[@EdurtreG]

Why paint and caulk? They are so very smell oriented. Looking inside can be enough to chase them away forever. Nice tips though. Also have a few on plants?

[@MegInWhispers]

black paint is recommended by bat experts to better absorb solar heat so pups and bats can be warm throughout the day

[@alexreid4131]

The dark paint makes sense to absorb as much heat as possible especially in areas like where I am (the PNW). The caulk apparently is to eliminate drafts. Bats are picky about such things. But they sleep in caves. Go figure 🤷‍♂️

[@ShakespeareCafe]

NEVER use an assistant to help pull a piece through a table saw cut. You can pull the operator's hand into the blade. It happens! The operator should push it through and the other person can grab it once it's clear of the blade but even that is not good practice. Also, you should never wear gloves when operating any saw. If you contact the blade it will pull your gloved hand into the blade. I also disagree about painting the inside.

[@alexreid4131]

I’m about to build one of these. What’s the reason not to paint the inside?

[@ShakespeareCafe]

@@alexreid4131 not necessary and in fact might harm the bats because it's a chemical...also the bats rely on raw wood to hang from. Paint will make it more difficult for them to sink their claws into, in my opinion.

[@alexreid4131]

@@ShakespeareCafe roger that. Makes sense. Thank you for the tips 👍

[@Nexuhss]

@@ShakespeareCafe Stain, always stain. Darkening the wood keeps the inside of the house darker, which bats like.

[@tomsaunders383]

You are Canadian. Use metric

[@rudyredcat425]

No one uses metric with wood. Same as cooking. 350 degrees, I don’t care what metric is.

[@idelsagil9129]

Let's Get Busy 1:22