Going Batty!
How to Build a Bat House
by World Almanac
Bats have gotten a bad name from horror stories and
movies. That’s too bad, because bats can be great little
guys to have around. Give a bat a place to live, and it will
help you cut down on mosquitoes and other insect
nuisances.
These tiny creatures, the world’s only flying mammals,
don’t ask for much. They want a warm, enclosed space
where they can hang out—literally! Bats climb the walls
when home, and yes, they do sleep upside down. So they
need a surface to grip with their tiny claws. They also like a
place that stays dark at night and is near water. (Eating
bugs makes a bat thirsty!)
This easy-to-build structure will welcome a small colony
of helpful bats. (Caution: Never touch a bat in case the bat
is sick.)
Read and Discuss
What point about bats is the author making?
Materials








1 sheet ½” exterior-grade untreated plywood, at least 2’ x 4’
1 piece 1” x 2” x 8’ untreated pine (for sides)
1” x 4” x 28” untreated board (for roof)
Window screen or mesh (optional), 5 sq. ft.
20 to 30 exterior-grade 1-inch screws
Small box 1-inch nails
Dark-colored, water-based paint or stain
Heavy-duty hanging hooks and wire (optional)
Tools (Caution: Always wear safety goggles when
using tools, and get an adult to help!)







Table saw or handsaw
Hammer
Screwdriver
Drill and drill bits
Staple gun
Paintbrush
Caulk gun
Let’s Get Started: Steps to Building a Bat House
1. Cut the plywood into three pieces as follows if you live in a warm
climate.
2. (See step 7 for measurements if you live in a cold climate.)
A. 26½” x 24” (1 back)
B. 26” x 24” (1 top front)
C. 5” x 24” (1 bottom front)
3. Cut the pine into three pieces as follows:
A. 24” (1 ceiling)
B. 20½” (2 side walls)
4. Paint or stain the wood. The dark color absorbs sunlight and
keeps the bat house warm.
5. Using the staple gun, cover one side of the back panel with the
screen so that bats can grab on to it. (If you don’t want to use a
screen, you can rough up the surface of the board with a file.)
6. Line up the side walls with the longer sides of the back panel.
Screw into place. There will be ½-inch extra back panel at the bottom
for bats to land on.
7. Place the ceiling at the top of the back panel, between the side
walls. Screw into place.
8. Place the top front panel on the house. Line it up with the ceiling,
and screw into place. Place the bottom front panel on the house,
leaving a ½-inch vent space between the top and bottom front
panels. If you live in a cold climate, you can eliminate this vent.
Simply cut a single front piece that’s 23 inches long.
9. Carefully nail the roof over the top.
10. For best results, apply caulk to the joints.
Informational Focus
Following Instructions The first strategy on page 316 says to preview the directions by reading
all the steps first. What would you do if you got to step 9 and realized you did not know what the
word joints or caulk meant? How might not understanding a word affect your completing the
project?
The Comforts of Home




Look for a wall facing south or east with a water source nearby.
Hang your bat house at least 12 feet off the ground to help keep other critters out.
Choose an area away from lighting, such as porch lights.
Bats like to live in neighborhoods, so consider building more than one bat house. You could create a
bat city!
Informational Focus
Following Instructions This last bulleted list has four more instructions, but they do not follow
as strong a sequence as the building instructions do. Decide which items need to come before or
after another. How would you order the information?