Comments on: Organic Mosquito Control – Bats! http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262 Susan Harris's blog about eco-friendly and urban gardening, plus the adventures of a DC-based garden writer, coach and occasional rabble-rowser. Mon, 24 May 2010 11:12:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jenn http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262/comment-page-1#comment-1080 jenn Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:57:03 +0000 http://sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=262#comment-1080 Here's a helpful hint. Don't mount your bat house over the garage door. They will visit and use it as temporary housing, as evidenced by the guano on the driveway, but they won't stay as it is too noisy for them. I keep intending to move it... maybe this summer. Ki - It may take a summer or two, but they will come. And they are loads of fun to watch as they swoop around at twilight. Here’s a helpful hint. Don’t mount your bat house over the garage door. They will visit and use it as temporary housing, as evidenced by the guano on the driveway, but they won’t stay as it is too noisy for them.

I keep intending to move it… maybe this summer.

Ki – It may take a summer or two, but they will come. And they are loads of fun to watch as they swoop around at twilight.

]]> By: firefly http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262/comment-page-1#comment-1079 firefly Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:20:58 +0000 http://sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=262#comment-1079 One thing I was told when I looked into mounting a bat house on a pole was if you have an active squirrel population in your yard a squirrel baffle is a wise investment -- squirrels will most definitely clamber up the pole to investigate and they can disturb the bats (who might go elsewhere for their 40 winks). My bat house is still only in the planning stage, but I'm looking forward to getting some help with those night-flying June beetles! One thing I was told when I looked into mounting a bat house on a pole was if you have an active squirrel population in your yard a squirrel baffle is a wise investment — squirrels will most definitely clamber up the pole to investigate and they can disturb the bats (who might go elsewhere for their 40 winks).

My bat house is still only in the planning stage, but I’m looking forward to getting some help with those night-flying June beetles!

]]> By: El http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262/comment-page-1#comment-1078 El Sat, 20 Jan 2007 23:24:41 +0000 http://sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=262#comment-1078 We put up a bat house on the back gable of our garage in Minneapolis. It worked! We painted it the same color as the garage, and even put an address on it (3426 1/2). Our neighbors thought we were nuts, but hey, the mosquito is like the state bird of Minnesota. I don't know if 45 of the buggers lived in it, though...maybe more like 4. We put up a bat house on the back gable of our garage in Minneapolis. It worked! We painted it the same color as the garage, and even put an address on it (3426 1/2). Our neighbors thought we were nuts, but hey, the mosquito is like the state bird of Minnesota. I don’t know if 45 of the buggers lived in it, though…maybe more like 4.

]]> By: Ki http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262/comment-page-1#comment-1077 Ki Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:45:16 +0000 http://sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=262#comment-1077 I'd be interested if the house actually attracts bats. My wife has been interested in buying a bat house but I was always skeptical and have held off getting one. She's always half full, I'm half empty. How high did you put the bat house? It looks very high. I’d be interested if the house actually attracts bats. My wife has been interested in buying a bat house but I was always skeptical and have held off getting one. She’s always half full, I’m half empty. How high did you put the bat house? It looks very high.

]]> By: Millie http://www.sustainablegardeningblog.com/archives/262/comment-page-1#comment-1076 Millie Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:20:57 +0000 http://sustainablegardeningblog.com/?p=262#comment-1076 Congratulations on this great new project. I have long been a bat fan, although they ARE quite ugly up close. But from a distance they look kind of cuddly. It will certainly give you a warm feeling knowing you're giving housing and care to little beasties that need it. No mosquitos!! I'll come sit on your deck all summer. Do report on whether they actually come to your house or if its just batting practice. Congratulations on this great new project. I have long been a bat fan, although they ARE quite ugly up close. But from a distance they look kind of cuddly. It will certainly give you a warm feeling knowing you’re giving housing and care to little beasties that need it. No mosquitos!! I’ll come sit on your deck all summer. Do report on whether they actually come to your house or if its just batting practice.

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