1 · Choose a design
From a multichamber box to a rocket to a bat condo, we have free guides to help you choose the right type of box for your site.
Guide coming soonWhile bat boxes are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, it’s worth remembering that they’re not a replacement for natural bat habitat, and not all bats use them. In British Columbia, 90% of bat boxes are used primarily by two of the province’s 15 species, Little Brown Myotis and Yuma Myotis. Other species rely on natural roosting sites such as trees, snags and cliffs, and rarely or never use bat boxes.
Before installing one, it’s important to consider whether a bat box is necessary or appropriate for your property.
Before you build
Is a bat box right for your site?
Protecting active bat colonies and maintaining natural habitat is always the priority. A bat box is most valuable where habitat has already been lost, and can do harm where it hasn’t.
When a bat box can help
Bat boxes may be valuable in the following situations:
- After bats have been excluded and evicted from a building, following proper timing and humane exclusion practices.
- When natural bat habitat has been removed, the loss of mature trees or dead snags.
- For education and outreach, such as at eco centres, campgrounds, or along interpretive trails.
When a bat box is not recommended
Bat boxes are not recommended in undisturbed areas where natural roosts are already available, such as:
- Mature cottonwood or aspen stands.
- Forests with cavity trees or sloughing bark.
- Cliffs and rock outcrops with deep crevices.
Getting started
Where do I start?
If you’ve removed mature or dead trees, or evicted bats from a barn, attic, or other building, you can support displaced bats by putting up a bat box. Here are a few simple steps to get you started.
2 · Build or buy
Build a box with our simple guides, or find out where to purchase ready-to-use, bat-friendly boxes in BC.
Guide coming soon3 · Install it well
Location, size and number all matter. Learn where to put up a box to make it effective and bat-friendly.
Guide coming soon4 · Register your box
Help us learn about bat boxes and their use in British Columbia by filling out a short online form.
Form coming soon5 · Count bats
Become a citizen scientist: learn to count the bats in your box and share your count to help us monitor BC bats.
Learn to count bats →6 · Collect guano
A single pellet of guano can tell us which species roosts in your box. Collect a sample, mail it to us, and help us learn how bats use boxes.
Guide coming soon
Bat box resources
Guides & best practices.
Free references on how to build, place and maintain safe, bat-friendly boxes in British Columbia. Downloads coming soon, ask your coordinator for a copy in the meantime.
Best Management Practices for Bat Boxes in BC
A technical guide to the criteria to consider when building, installing and maintaining bat boxes so they stay bat-friendly and safe.
PDF, 2019 · 11 pages · download coming soon
Building Homes for Bats
A reference guide on how to build, where to place, and how to maintain safe bat boxes for bats in British Columbia.
PDF, 2017 · 32 pages · download coming soon
Bat House BMP Brochure
An infographic summary of best-management practices for bat houses across the USA and Canada.
PDF, 2025 · 4 pages · download coming soon
Looking for more? Browse the document library or our resources, and learn how the province is responding to white-nose syndrome.
Common questions
Bat boxes: common questions.
Where should I mount a bat box?
Mount it 4–6 m high on a building or pole — not a tree — with a clear flight path below and several hours of direct sun, usually facing south or southeast in BC. Bats need warm roosts, so sun exposure and a dark exterior matter a lot.
How long until bats move into a new box?
Be patient — adoption can take one to three seasons, and some boxes are never used. Good placement, strong sun, and being near existing bat activity or water make success far more likely.
Should I register my bat box?
Yes — adding your box to the provincial registry helps track where bats roost and lets you join the Annual Bat Count. Registration is free through the BC Community Bat Program.
Will a bat box make bats get into my house?
No — a well-placed box gives bats their own dedicated roost and doesn't draw them indoors. Sealing gaps on your house while offering a box nearby is the coexistence-friendly approach.