The Loss of Bat Resources and How We Can Help. Food Ohio bats are insectivorous Water Need fresh drinking water Water also attracts insects Shelter Diversity.

The Loss of Bat Resources and How We Can Help

Location, Location, Location!

What do bats need?Food

Ohio bats are insectivorousWater

Need fresh drinking waterWater also attracts insects

ShelterDiversity of habitatLoose tree bark and small tree cavitiesOld (or sometimes new!) barns, buildings, and

structuresAir

Just like us, bats need to breathe fresh air!

Why should humans want to help?Food

We spray pesticides on our cropsWater

We pollute our waterways with toxinsWe dam, reroute, or otherwise alter natural waterways

ShelterWe urbanize areas, cutting down forestsWe demolish old buildings that could already house

batsIf we find bats in our homes, we kill them immediatelyWe explore and vandalize caves where bats hibernate

AirIndustrialization has led to air pollution

If we build it, they will come!Bat boxes are inexpensive and easy to makeDesigns include:

Traditional wooden houseLarge “condos” on stiltsTowers

So what can we do?

Bat condo at Oak Openings Preserve

Single chamber bat

boxes

Sugarloaf Key Bat Tower, Florida, 1929

“Location, Location, Location!”The #1 cause of bat box “failure” is poor

placementBats must be able to fulfill all of their needs

immediately around their roostThe availability of 5 main needs will determine

whether a box will be successful:Water and foodShelterWarmthProtectionClear flight path

Prime real estateWater and food

Box should be within ¼ mile of waterBox should not be near any heavy pesticide use areas

ShelterBox should be amidst diverse habitatBox should be near an existing roost if possible

WarmthBox should receive 6 - 10 hours of direct sunlight per dayBox should face SE to SW for maximum exposure

ProtectionBox should be mounted on pole, not on tree

Easier to find; protection from tree-climbing predatorsBox should be away from roads

Clear flight pathBox should be 20 ft. away from branches, wires, etc.

Land Managers = Real Estate Agents ?Land Management

teams have an important but difficult job

First, they must make sure that we conserve as much bat habitat as possible

Second, when we decide to build a bat box, they must make sure there is a good location

Let’s do it!

Sources Bat Conservation Trust, http://

www.bats.org.uk/pages/threats_to_bats.html Association of Zoos and Aquariums, https://

www.aza.org/uploadedFiles/Education/Resources_for_Educators/Thematic_Educational_Activities/Threats%20to%20Bats.pdf

Bat Conservation and Management, http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batboxes/choosingsite.html

Organization for Bat Conservation, http://www.batconservation.org/bat-houses/where-to-place

actionbioscience, http://www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/tchankoshvili.html

Ohio Division of Wildlife, http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/mammals/little-brown-bat

Field of Dreams (screenshot), Universal Pictures, 1989 Wikipedia, Sugar Loaf Key Bat Tower, http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarloaf_Key_Bat_Tower Habibat, http://www.habibat.co.uk/about-habibat/