Give a Bat a Home in Dorset this Halloween by Morwenna Alldis 
As you know from our previous blog, twelve of the UK’s 17 breeding bat species are found at Arne: barbastelle, Bechstein’s, Brandt’s, brown long-eared, common pipistrelle, Daubenton’s, Leisler’s, Natterer’s, noctule, serotine, soprano pipistrelle, and whiskered bat.

It’s also that time of year when bats get a bit of an eerie-rap, as spooky witches’ familiars or fang-tastic vampires in animal disguise. But actually these creatures of the night are harmless and we think they’re pretty cute too. In fact, bats are struggling at the moment, the Bat Conservation Society reports that our UK bat numbers “have declined considerably over the last century”. Habitat loss, damaged or destroyed roosts sites due to building and development works, disturbance to their commuting routes by new roads – are just a few factors affecting the future of our UK bats. But we can all take steps in our own homes to give bats a home - so hang up your garlic and rather than carving a stake this Halloween, turn your carpentry skills to making a bat box.

The basic principles of a bat box. They should....

• be made from untreated wood, i.e. wood that hasn't been pressure-treated with chemicals. Bats are sensitive to smells, and preservative chemicals may be harmful to them
• be made from rough-sawn wood (rather than smooth, planed wood)
• have good, tight joints – bats hate a draught
• have a narrow slit at the back of the box, with a rough piece of wood leading up to it that they can clamber up.
• The very best bat box is one with two or more internal compartments, and one that is as large as possible – a deep cavern makes bats feel really safe, and keeps the air temperature more constant.
• By hanging several bat boxes next to each other, bats are more likely to take up residence.

To find out the correct dimensions for your bat box and for step by step instructions on how to make it, visit: http://bit.ly/RSPBbatbox


Hanging Your Bat Box

You could put it under the eaves of your house or, if you have a large garden, on the trunk of a mature tree. Ideally, look for a spot that is at least 3 m (10 feet) from the ground, sheltered from strong winds and exposed to the sun for part of the day. Position your box so it faces between south-west and south-east. Make sure there is a clear flight line in.

Sit Back and Watch from a Distance Once your bats have moved in, remember not to disturb them as bats are protected by law. Even if you don’t spot bats flying in and out of their new home, check the ground below for their black droppings, which crumble like dust.

And remember that if you invite a vampire – I mean a bat, into your own home, it’s an open invite for them to visit anytime they choose...m’wahhhhhh. Happy Halloween!