Bats are deeply misunderstood.

They do not pose any threat to humans and can bring major benefits to your yard.

The major practical advantage is that bats are the best natural mosquito exterminators, eating their weight in mosquitoes on a daily basis, so it will make your yard a mosquito haven in the summer.

But more than that, by hosting them in a box, you provide a safe shelter for them to roost.

Their natural habitat has been facing degradation due to deforestation and rampant use of chemicals, and in 2023, as much as 53% of species in North America were at risk.

A bat box also indirectly helps the local ecosystem, as bats are some of the most important pollinators.

While you can mount a bat box on a tree, it's not ideal.

Studies show tree-mounted boxes take twice as long to attract bats.

Trees provide too much shade and leave bats more vulnerable to predators.

However, if a house or pole isn’t an option, choose the sunniest, most open tree possible and keep the box at least 20 feet from branches to improve your chances.

The best way to control mosquitoes starts with removing their breeding grounds, meaning any standing water in buckets, birdbaths, or other containers.

But in areas with natural wetlands, this alone isn't enough.

While insecticide spraying may seem like a quick fix, it's often ineffective and comes with serious downsides.

Spraying harms beneficial wildlife like bees, fish, and bats and poses risks to humans as well.

A more sustainable and natural solution is attracting bats.

Bats are efficient nighttime mosquito predators, and while it may take a year or two for a bat house to become fully occupied, the long-term benefits are worth the wait.

Agencies like the National Park Service and Canadian Wildlife Federation support using bat houses for mosquito control.

Once bats settle in, they return each spring, offering a low-maintenance and eco-friendly pest control solution.

Bats are extremely effective at controlling insect pests, especially at night.

They feed on a wide range of bugs, including flies, mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and other insects that harm gardens, crops, and outdoor spaces.

Because bats are nocturnal and use echolocation to hunt, they can track and catch insects in complete darkness, something birds can't do. This makes bats far more efficient than birds at clearing away nighttime pests.

When bats take up residence in a bat house, most insects either leave the area or get eaten.

A single bat can eat over one-third of its body weight in insects each night, so with a healthy colony, you’ll notice a significant drop in insect activity around your property.

Getting rabies from bats is extremely rare. In North America, only one or two cases occur per year, while globally, 99% of rabies deaths come from dogs. Bats are not aggressive, and they typically only bite in self-defense if handled. In places where bats and humans coexist, simple precautions—like avoiding direct contact—have allowed millions to observe bats safely for decades without a single rabies case.

If you are bitten or come into direct contact with a bat’s saliva, it’s important to wash the area immediately and seek medical advice. However, just being near a bat or having one fly by is not a risk. Public health policies sometimes exaggerate the threat, leading to unnecessary fear. Most bats are harmless and highly beneficial to the environment.

Owl boxes should be mounted 10-15 feet high from the ground for the major types: Screech owls, Boreal owls, and Northern Saw-Whet owls. For Barn owls, the same 10-15 height is recommended. 

• Trees are better than poles because they are less exposed. They also allow owlets to climb back up to the box if they fall out, which they can’t do with a pole. 
• The hole should face open ground, but facing away from prevailing winds if possible.
• Trees with low-hanging branches or those partially hidden by other trees or buildings aren’t suitable because the owls won’t be able to see them. Make sure the entrance to the box is visible to owls. 
• Avoid placing boxes 1km or closer to a motorway because it’s very likely that it might result in a road death. Other risk factors for owls include: farms nearby that frequently apply pesticides, herbicides, or other potentially harmful chemicals, and frequent use of rodent control poisons.
• In areas with a lot of pests, install one or two nesting boxes per 10 acres, with a maximum of one box per 4 acres in areas with high rodent activity. Keep the box away from dense woods, but near scattered trees, this provides young owls with safe perches as they practice hunting.

For Elf Owls the box should be placed 6 - 10 feet high but the entrance should be a 2 inch hole. Elf owls can use the box if the entrance is adjusted. This can be achieved by blocking part of the exit so that the hole is created. We advise that you only try this if you know your area has a significant Elf Owl population.

The type of owl which is able to nest in a box of this size is too small to hunt cats or dogs so they pose no danger to the pets. In general, owls go for mice or rats, and do not prefer prey that fights back, such as cats. However, kittens or very small puppies should be kept away from owl nests for maximum safety.

There is no magic lure that will get owls to come to your box. Getting an owl to rent your B&B requires time and patience, but the location of the box will make a big difference in how likely they are to favor it as a nest: 

• Place it 10-15 feet high off the ground
• Face it towards open ground, away from prevailing winds as much as possible
• Make sure the entrance of the box is not obscured by trees, branches, or buildings so that owls can spot it

Keep the box away from dense woods, but near scattered trees, this provides young owls with safe perches as they practice hunting.

If an owl has chosen a box as its nest, it will be well able to defend it without any problems. The only issue is keeping the squirrels out until then. Try to keep a vigilant eye on the box, and evict squirrels as soon as they get in, by hitting the box with a broom and bothering them enough to leave, before they have a chance to have babies there. If squirrels take over the box first, they’ll quickly fill it with leaves and twigs, sometimes in a single day!  

Once the box is full, owls won’t attempt to clear it out, making it unusable for them. The squirrels will have their nest (drey) complete, forcing the owls to find another home. To prevent this, remove any leaves or twigs the squirrels have carried inside in early autumn, helping keep the box open and ready for owls. Keep emptying it until the squirrel gives up and feels like the spot is not worth their time and energy! 

(Some people choose to spray cayenne pepper in their nest boxes to deter squirrels, but if those squirrels rub it into their eyes, it may cause them pain or even temporarily blind them. In Wildyard we have the preservation of all woodland creatures as a priority so we’d like to discourage anyone from using this method.)

Owls are highly effective natural predators of rodents. This makes them valuable allies in controlling mice and rat populations, especially in agricultural settings. Studies have shown that nesting owls can significantly reduce rodent numbers in specific areas. By installing owl boxes, landowners can encourage these beneficial birds to settle and help manage rodent issues naturally. 

Eastern Screech Owls hunt a variety of small mammals such as mice, voles, and rats, making them valuable for natural rodent control in suburban and rural areas. Northern Saw-whet Owls primarily feed on small mammals, especially deer mice, with rodents comprising 84.5% of their diet.

First and foremost, you need to consider the safety of the area for the owls. Please do not place an owl box in your yard if you: 

1. Live 1km or less from a big motorway because it’s very likely that it might result in a road death.
2. Use rat poisons frequently. 
3. Live close to farms that might apply pesticides, herbicides, or other potentially harmful chemicals. 

Other than that, there are some factors that you should take into account:

• Whether there are green spaces nearby, such as parks or hills. This increases the chances of an owl spotting your box.
• Whether your yard has trees. Trees are a great place to hang your box and feel natural to the environment of the owl (in contrast to, for example, the side of your house or a pole). 
• Whether you live in a quiet area or if there is a lot of noise and human activity nearby. Owls prefer quieter areas which pose less of a threat to them. 
• Whether there is a lot of game for the owls. If your area has a lot of rodents such as mice, rats, or squirrels, there are more chances of owls being interested in the area.
  
  

Not at all! Solitary bees are non-aggressive and do not defend their nests like honeybees or wasps. They rarely sting and only do so if directly handled or threatened, making them safe to have in your garden.

To encourage bees to use the house, place it in a sunny, sheltered spot facing south or southeast. Ensure it's at least 3–5 feet off the ground and near flowering plants. Avoid spraying pesticides nearby, as they can deter or harm pollinators. Over time, as bees discover the safe nesting space, they’ll start using it to lay their eggs. You can also place a bowl of water somewhere nearby and even scent it with lemongrass oil.

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