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The RICHMOND BATPAGE! |
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A COLLECTION OF BAT RELATED MATERIAL ORIGINATING IN THE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA AREA
Got Mosquitoes?
The Richmond Bat House Project
Intended to increase the dwindling bat habitat in the Richmond, Virginia area through education and by building, placing, maintaining and monitoring bat houses.
All materials and time are provided by volunteers. Special thanks to Hairfield family for getting the ball rolling. Also special thanks to richmonder.com for providing us somewhere to hang virtually.
If you are interested in volunteering your time building houses, or donating materials to the project please e-mail us.
Any area schools looking for a class science project should consider this!
As we get rolling we hope to post pictures of each bat house installation as well as statistics about the tenants. We will also post any other bat related art work, poetry, jokes, cartoons, questions.
31 houses so far 11/09/2000
The first 60 households or businesses in the immediate Richmond area to E-mail us will be evaluated to receive an assembled bat house with mounting hardware. Participants must be willing to fill out a form and to help us monitor the occupancy throughout the year.
Want bats, but don't have them?
Attracting bats means providing habitat. Since they migrate through the area, putting up bat houses can provide safe places to rest and eat insects -- 1200 bugs an hour -- and maybe raise a family.
The idea is to give them real estate designed to suit their needs.
Bat Conservation International through their member research has led the effort to design a better bat house. These new designs offer a better chance of success than the old designs.
Have bats but don't want them?
If you can locate where they are entering, drape
1/2 inch plastic
netting over the opening so they can exit but not re-enter.
Then be sure to call a bat friendly pest
control company. In Virginia call:
the Bee Bat Bird Men!!! 804 288-8711
e-mail us if you know of others.
You want someone who can capture the bats an release them safely elsewhere or properly install the one way netting, then once the bats are out seal up their access.
Why are bats endangered?
Mostly - Loss of habitat.
Ask Auntie Macasser - the bat lady
Got a question or problem involving bats? Just e-mail Auntie. If she doesn't already know the answer, she'll do the research and get right back to you.
Want to help?
Can we make a difference? We will only know if we try. The goal is 100 houses by 9/2000. So far we have enough materials to make 50 houses.
We need more materials, and folks to paint and assemble them. That means you!
Materials include plywood and lumber, fasteners, and weather proof coatings. If you can help, just e-mail us.
Auntie Macasser would be happy to e-mail you bat house plans if you want to try it on your own
