Threatened animals
How you can contribute to species protection with a bat box
Unfortunately, bats are now among the most threatened native mammals
© Axel Bueckert / Getty Images
In Germany alone there are 25 species of bats, all of which are on the list of endangered species. Due to the progressive clearing of their natural habitats and the increasing decline in insects, the flying mammals are being deprived of all means of subsistence. To counteract extinction, you can support bats.
The list of factors that make life difficult for bats – in the truest sense of the word – has become longer and longer in recent years: The focus is not only on climate change, which causes young animals in particular to die in the hotter summer months before they can leave nest. Wind turbines are also an increasing threat to the nocturnal animals. And as if that weren’t bad enough, the widespread use of pesticides also means that they lack food sources such as insects (especially moths). Unfortunately, we have little or no influence on most points. However, you can support bats by providing them with new shelters. You can find out how this works as follows.
Attach the bat box to the house: Here’s how
The breeding season for many bat species begins between March and April, so spring is the ideal time to install a nest box. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on a tree or on a house wall – it is important, however, that you observe the following points before installation:
- Bats avoid daylight, so the box should not be exposed to direct sunlight – otherwise the habitat will heat up too much in summer. But also avoid (lantern) light and noise around the camp at night.
- hang one bat box high in the slipstream (preferably four to five meters above the ground) so that the mammals have a free entry path. This also ensures that no predators such as cats or martens get to the nesting site.
- Since several boxes can be hung up at the same time: Use different building corners and cardinal directions (preferably south-east to north-west). This allows bats – depending on the outside temperature – to switch back and forth between the shelter options.
- Due to the integrated, open droppings in the bat box, the excrement of the animals falls down – accordingly, you should not attach nesting boxes over your windows, the balcony or your terrace, a house entrance or a seating area.
Important: When assembling, make sure the bat box is securely and securely attached. If the nesting site falls down, you endanger people and animals alike.
Another tip: Flat bat boxes, the open downwards usually do not need to be cleaned. If you still want to start an experiment, choose a time when the animals are neither occupied with rearing their offspring nor hibernating. It is essential that you orientate yourself on the applicable prohibitions on disruption, which are set out in the Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) have been defined.
How to support bats in the garden
As already mentioned, bats are threatened with extinction – triggered by an increasing lack of food and habitat. To support species protection, you can take other measures (in addition to installing suitable nesting boxes): Since the animals rest during the day, nocturnal insects are on their menu. To lure them into your home garden, you can plant plants that bloom at night, such as catchfly and evening primrose. But also fish herbs such as mint, sage and lemon balm are real insect magnets. As far as purchasing insect-friendly shrubs are concerned, so are Buddleia or hawthorn useful to provide insects and thus bats with more food sources.
Build your own bat box: instructions
Since bats do not have high demands on their place of refuge, you can lend a hand yourself: all you need to build a summer or winter quarters are the following utensils: a few wooden boards that are at least two centimeters thick and eco-certified, as well as Wood screws, a jigsaw and a cordless screwdriver, a drill and a wood file, a brush and linseed oil, a ruler or tape measure and a pencil. In this easy-to-understand video, Naturschutzbund Deutschland eV (NABU for short) explains step-by-step how to turn this into a stable bat box, including an entry path for easier vertical landing:
A notice: You can find the appropriate building instructions here download.
Sources: NABU, bat protection, German Wildlife Foundation
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