BAT HOUSE SURVEY
The roosting preferences of America's bats are not very well understood. Although European bats have been roosting in man-made bat houses for centuries, Americans are just now learning of the many benefits of having bats near their homes. Your assistance is urgently needed to provide input on whether bats are or are not using a bat house you have erected. Please take a few minutes to complete this form and then return it to Wildlife Diversity Program, PO BOX 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.
Your results will be added to a national data base maintained by Bat Conservation International. Thank you for your valuable input.
Name Date
Address
City
State Zip
Telephone ( )
BAT HOUSE/ROOST LOCATION
County: Roosting Site:
Distance & Direction From Nearest Town:
ROOST DESCRIPTION -- Please circle the type of roosting area used by bats:
Bridge or other structure Tree Cave
Bat House (Please Complete "Bat House Description" Below Also)
Building / Attic Other
What are the dimensions, elevation, entrance size, etc. of the immediate roost site:
Estimated number of bats and species, if known:
Length of time bats have used this roost, if known:
Have any offspring been observed (circle)? Yes No
Estimate the percentage of surrounding habitat types within 1/2 mile of the roost:
% forest % pasture % suburban % wetlands/water
% agriculture % other cleared % urban % other
Property Owner’s Name:
Owner's attitude toward the bats, if known:
Neighbors' attitude toward bats, if known:
Have there been any known attempts to eradicate the bats at this roost, or discourage its use (circle)? Yes No
Primary foraging areas, if known:
Bat House Description
1. Bat house size/number of compartments (circle):
Small (1-2) Medium (3-4) Large (>4)
2. Wood type (circle): Plywood Pine Cedar Oak
Elm Cypress Fir Other
3. Treatment/Painted or Stained (circle): Untreated Black Dark brown
Medium brown Light brown White Other
4. Roosting surface (circle): Rough wood Grooved wood Smooth wood
Hardware cloth Fiberglass screening Other
5. Insulation (circle): None used In attic, front and rear compartments In attic and central compartment only Other
6. Number of other bat houses within a 1/4 mile radius:
7. Arrangement of immediately adjacent houses (circle): 1 house alone
2 houses side by side 3 houses side by side 2 houses back to back Other
Exposure to Sun and Pesticides
8. Hours exposed to direct sun:
9. Direction house faces:
10. Pesticide spraying in the immediate vicinity (circle):
None Light Moderate Heavy
11. Bat house is attached to (circle): Pole Wooden building Tree trunk Stone or concrete building Other
12. Height above ground is (circle): <10 feet 10 to 15 feet
16 to 20 feet 21 to 25 feet 26 to 30 feet >30 feet
13. Distance to nearest potential obstacles/tree limbs/etc. (circle): <5 feet 6 to 15 feet 16 to 25 feet 26 to 35 feet >35 feet
14. Month and year in which house was put up:
15. House is (circle): Unoccupied Occupied (Complete Remainder of Form)
16. Month and year in which house was first known to be occupied:
17. Month (if known) of bats annual arrival and departure
18. Average number of bats occupying house (best estimate):
19. Method of counting bats (circle): Counted while emerging
Looked inside Saw droppings only
20. House is used by (circle): Bachelors Mothers rearing young Overwintering bats Unknown
Comments on bat movements within or among houses during temperature extremes, or special insights into bat preferences: