I was considering getting a bat house this spring. I live in a residential area (my yard, for example, is 1/10th an acre), but last summer was my first summer here and I definitely saw little brown bats nightly in my backyard, looping and swooping around. I figure if they are around anyway, might as well give them a little home. I am wondering if anyone here has one and has any thoughts? Any reason not to do it?
I had a long conversation with a bat house builder last year. Things they like: south facing. No structure below the bathouse - they enter by swooping low and then going up into the house; remember you will have guano to deal with below the bat house.
After the conversation, I sadly discovered I don’t have a place for one.
My bat house has been rudely ignored by our bats. It’s facing south on a very high pole (15’ ish) as described in the installation instructions. We still see one or two swooping bats in our yard, but they aren’t using the house. It’s disappointing.
I put one up too, followed directions, etc. But no one moved in 
I have bats, but apparently they prefer to live on the side of my house and in the gutters, facing north, than whatever the directions on the boathouse said!
At my last house I had bats, and I didn’t mind them, until I started finding them in MY house! They are a bit difficult to catch because they fly so erratically. Just be aware, that if you attract them, they may determine YOUR digs make better housing than what you provide for them!
