Any of you guys have bat houses??? Do you have any luck roosting them??

Yes and yes.

I've seen some around on refuges and Gubmint property but always dilapidated and most likley not successful. I hope to graduate to that someday.

How do you set one up.

The UNsuccessful ones have been low to the ground, out in the bright sunlight, disfunctional.................y'know, like most thing the Gubmint runs.
I'd think the peak of roofs under the facia in shade would be good. Some houses really attracts bats, as do belfrys.

I've always wanted to make one...the best design I could come up with was a dual room, 12" wide x 24" tall, with 3/4" thick spacing. Is this what you that are successful with populations have? We have brown bats here, and I'd be interested in any info on them!

I've built and installed several, both double chambered rocket and 4'x2'x1' multichambered. Installed in the yards of clients I evicted bats for. No luck getting them occupied even when prepped with guano.

All mounted on 24' western red 4x4.

Built one a couple years back, works great. Plans were from a fella from Indiana if I remember correctly. 3 chamber, 14 x 30. I made it out of cedar fence boards as cedar weathers good and they are rough cut for easy grasp/grip by the bats. Chamber depth is one of the most important things for a bat (according to this guy...and he had over 20 bat houses occupied on his property so I figured he knew more than I). IIRC it was supposed to be exactly 3/4 inch, with absolutely no more than 1/8 inch leeway either way. Special vents to allow draft were also critical as it allows the bats to climb up or down and even change chambers to find their desired temperature during the day. Height of house is very important and his most successful houses are 20 feet up and away from any trees that allow predatory birds to snatch them easily as they exit and return. Paint the house darker the farther north you live and it needs to be water tight...they dont like to get wet while roosting. Wish I could find the article, Im only covering what I can remember when I built mine. Good luck, they are a welcome addition in my area

on my wifes old house, they roosted in the shutters on the ground floor windows. always enjoyed watching them emerge in the evenings.

I'd say my info is right on pace, I just need to get lazy butt in the wood shop. Thanks for the insight!

I've seen that at three or four houses, brown bats roosting behind ground floor shutters.

No.

I have purple martins, barn swallows and tree swallows. None of those ever made it necessary for my daughter to go through the rabies series. Don't want bats ANYWHERE near my house.

The risk is extremely low.

I think Batman lived in this one.

This thing was insane to watch at dusk. There had to be over 1,00 bats living in it.

Tell my daughter.

The risk increases if you catch them on a fly rod at dusk with a mister twister tail and no hook.

Does that require a hunting license in Wisconsin ??? Or a fishing license ???