Rocket Bat Box
Bat boxes are man-made roosts that are used to draw bats to places where there are few roosting opportunities. Bat boxes come in a range of styles, from self-assembled wooden boxes to external fully prepared boxes and even designed bat boxes that can be incorporated into walls. Different bat species need various quantities of space.
Orientation
Bats’ ability to successfully take up artificial roost is considered to be affected by temperature. Bats, in general, seek out warm environments to assist in the rearing of their offspring. As a consequence, Rocketbox should be positioned in a position that receives the most sunlight. This would be the southerly aspects/orientation of the northern hemisphere (south, south-west and south-east).
Height
Place the rocketbox at least 2 meters above ground, but preferably 5 to 7 meters. Placements above windows, doors, and wall climbing plants should be avoided to reduce the chance of cat predation. A site near the property’s eaves or gable apex would be ideal.
Landscape considerations
It’s good to think about whether there are nearby linear landscape features like hedges and treelines to make the Rocketbox a possible roost for a broader variety of bat species. This is because some bat species rely on these features to navigate between their roosting site and feeding grounds, as well as to avoid flying in open or exposed areas.
Monitoring
Bats and their roosts are protected by law from disturbance and destruction. As a result, only a licensed bat worker can thoroughly inspect the Rocketbox for bat use. Anyone, however, should look for signs of bat activity. This involves bat droppings on the plinth and surrounding walls, as well as bats flying away at dusk.
Cavity chambered Rocket Bat Box
(includes 5m pole)
- Large bat box
- Ideal option for mitigation projects where there is no appropriate building or tree available for installing a bat box.
- Constructed from exterior plywood
- Roosting area runs around the central pole, enabling the bats to move inside the box to pick their favourite micro-habitat.
- Comes as standard with a 5 metre galvanised rectangular metal pole (80 x 80mm).
- Suitable for Leisler’s bats, Daubenton’s bats and Brown Long-eared bats
Crevice chambered Rocket Bat Box
(includes 5m pole)
- Large bat box
- Ideal option for mitigation projects where there is no appropriate building or tree available for installing a bat box.
- Constructed from Marine grade plywood
- Roosting area runs around the central pole, enabling the bats to move inside the box to pick their favourite micro-habitat.
- Comes as standard with a 5 metre rectangular galvanised metal pole (80 x 80mm).
- Suitable for Common, Soprano and Nathusius’s Pipistrelle alongside Whiskered Bats.