Fully Assembled, no painting, simplest bat house to install
The 8''x56'' Super Rocket Roost is a no brainer for serious bat habitat enhancement and mitigation. Our Rocket Core mimics a dead tree with both "wedge" roost crevices and more traditional vertical baffles. This is a great choice in forest environments suitable for small colonies of a wide range of species. A 1/8'' thick heavy-duty custom outdoor UV-resistant plastic shell protects the roost for a no maintenance roost. The larger mass of the Super Rocket Roost retains heat longer into the night and provides more roost crevices for more bats.
The BCM Rocket Roost is intended to be added to an existing 4''x6''x16' treated post. Bats may land on, but never roost against the treated post. For warm climates consider installing in part (afternoon) or full shade. As with all bat houses, multiple location or roost designs can increase the chances of occupancy.
Thanks to "White Nose Syndrome" that has killed millions of bats in North America, the landscape of the bat population has changed. Rocket Roosts tend to attract small families of bats but of a wider range of species, whereas larger nursery bat houses tend to attract a large number of just a few species. Some bats prefer small roosts which end up being less obvious to predators and less prone to parasite overload. So, one bat roost does not fit all, and BCM Rocket Roosts are a great complement to nursery style bat houses especially on forest edges.
Rocket boxes are highly successful and perform better than many other designs. Our 4'' test units had big brown bats occupy in less than 10 days at one site, while at another location little brown bats were recorded the first time it was surveyed 45 days after installation. At one location, our Super Rocket Roost had little brown bats occupying in approximately one month. Rocket Roosts are great for large mitigation projects were a number of long-term replacement roosts are necessary, while being far more cost effective than other solutions
Contents: (1) 8'' diameter, 56'' tall Super Rocket Roost with heavy-duty plastic exterior and associated hardware. The Super Rocket Roost overall is almost 8'' in diameter, 56'' high, and weighs ~35 lbs.
Difference from 4'' Super Rocket Roost: The 4’’ Super Rocket contains only “wedge” crevices. The 8’’ Super Rocket contains both “wedge” crevices and more traditional “vertical” crevices found in nursery type bat houses. Super Rockets have the fewest steps for installation and simply slip over an existing post.
You supply: (1)- 80 lb. bag concrete mix. For the base use (1) 4''x6''x16' treated post. 16' is minimum length for the base, this will get the bottom of the Rocket Roost ~11' above ground, assuming ~3' is in the ground. Use a longer base post if you anticipate the vegetation to grow up and possibly shade the roost. Caution: a dry 4''x6''x16' treated post can weigh 80- 100 lbs. but is usually available at some local lumber yards.You can make a warp-resistant post by using deck screws to attached two 2x4x16' or 2x6x16' PT together; these are available at any lumber supply. In wet locations, you might possibly double the life of the post by adding a Post Protector to protect the ground-air transition zone where most base posts fail.
How to install: Optionally stain the post to extend its life even longer and/or for looks. In wet locations use this sleeve or this post protector to protect from long term moisture or enable easy lowering if desired. Slip on post protector (if desired) and drill out its weep holes. Place in a hole with 8'' of gravel at the bottom. Backfill a few more inches of gravel, then backfill with cement mix. Approximately 2.5'-3' of the post should be below ground. While the Super Rocket Roost may be intimidating, two people can easily flip the post upright. Once standing in the hole, it will not fall over, assuming the hole diameter was not over-dug.
Overall points:
8’’ diameter x 56'' tall Rocket Roost
35 lbs weight without post, ~135 lbs. with post
1’ of the Roost Core slips over and lag bolts to a 4’’x6’’x16' treated post (you provide)
Heavy-duty shell slips over the baffle core, no bolts are exposed
Diagonal "Gill Vents" provide lower level ventilation avoiding overheating
Roost Core features both “wedge” crevices (specific to rocket boxes) and “vertical baffles” (like traditional bat houses), which are attractive to a wide range of tree, crevice, and building roosting species
Designed so guano drops out; no cleaning required
Two people can easily stand the post up into a 3’ deep hole
Use a 4’’x6’’ post protector to double the life of the post; stain the post dark brown to extend even longer
Approximate safe capacity ~114 bats, more or less depending on circumstances
Handmade in Pennsylvania, built for use everywhere in North America
DayLodge DIY Kit arrives with pre-cut and pre-roughened wood parts, screws, adhesive, plastic lumber roof, and mounting screws (however, the same bat house is available assembled) for those looking to speed up their bat house project. Holds ~100 bats safely. Approved by Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
The DayLodge features a very strong, and very simple roof construction that creates a super solid bat house that will last many, many years. It is capped by a solid piece of 1/2'' thick recycled plastic lumber, and will last decades. It is suitable for kids ~8 and up with supervision, workshops, school projects, scout projects, or anyone wishing to build their own solid, modern bat house without fabricating parts. This is the easiest to assemble 3 chamber bat house BCM has offered.
DayLodge comes with exterior structural mounting screws that support the entire bat house, eliminating the problem of roofs and backs separating. DayLodge is the strongest, most long lasting plywood bat house BCM has ever produced.
1/4'' drill bit to help start the 6'' long TimberLOK mounting screws straight
1/8'' drill bit (optional, to slightly predrill holes to help young kids assemble)
Mount Kit with Perch Panel, optional and sold separately, but strongly recommended. Should be used with wood posts, siding, brick, or stone. Choose your mounting surface kit below, or make your own spacers.
Need multiple kits for a group project? Our multi-pack saves money for bat conservation! Great for workshops, scout groups, and anyone in a DIY mood. Note: Three DayLodge kits may be packaged in one shipping box, and one tube of adhesive is provided for every 3 kits ordered.
Our DayLodge bat house is based on a tried and true design suitable across all of North America.
Recommended as an all-around bat house that offers capacity with reasonable cost, great for starting new colonies.
Sides are 2''x4'', stronger/thicker than competitors.
Screenless design is safer for bats. DreamRoost's interior is permanently and severely roughened with random direction overlapping scratches; provides more rough surface for pups than competitors.
Rear vent allows bats to cool off between the bat house and the mounting surface. When placed on our Mount Kit or against a wall using appropriate spacers, an additional roost crevice is formed, increasing the usefulness and capacity.
Decorative front bat cutout helps protect bats from overheating.
Suitable for all climates with appropriate coloring; under DayLodge's virtually indestructible plastic roof is a sold block of wood that buffers temperature changes.
Interior 13''x3.5''x1'' Pup Playground attic allows bats to change baffles and avoid predators.
7/8'' and 15/16'' crevices for nationwide use on all bat house loving species.
Mounted using two 6'' long heavy duty TimberLOK hex head screws pre-drilled; no stress or seams on the roof for maximum longevity.
Roof is 1/2'' recycled "plastic lumber"; virtually indestructible and UV resistant.
4'' landing area and recessed roost baffles provide a protective overhang.
All interior surfaces have been permanently roughened by hand in random directions for the best "bat holds" possible. We DO NOT use screen material for baffles as it has been shown to shred over time and pups can be trapped under it. This box should be painted appropriately for your area.
General Specifications: Safe holding capacity: ~96 bats @ 2 bats per linear inch of roosting crevice. Additional ~32 bat capacity on the rear Perch Panel of our Post Mount. height: 16.75''; width: 17.25''; depth: 5.75''; weight: 13.5 lbs. Internal chambers: 3; chamber spacing: 7/8''-15/16''
Bat House Return Policy: Within 30 days of receipt, full refund less $20 restocking fee. Shipping is non-refundable.
Heavy-duty Seamless "No Maintenance" Exterior • Made in the USA • Multiple Crevice Sizes for Nationwide Use • Attic Pup Ledge • Rear Vent Exit • Rear Perch Panel cool off crevice
“The BCM 4 chamber (ColonyLodge) is one of my all time favorite bat houses presently available” - Merlin Tuttle, Founder of Bat Conservation International andMerlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Building bat houses since 1990, BCM has now created a long-lasting one that incorporates critical features bat biologists have most recently recommended. Our one-piece, thick plastic outer shell eliminates seams separating over time, which can render bat houses unusable. Our ColonyLodge will outlast any unmaintained all-wood bat house on the market.
BCM's ColonyLodge incorporates space suitable for even more species around the country, and includes our unique sloped ceiling crevice that allows bats to snuggle against the warm roof, and may prevent pups from falling out! An extra-wide 1.5'' crevice is suitable for big brown bats found across most of the country, Pallid bats in the West, and Florida bonneted bats in the south half of Florida. Mexican free tail and many myotis spp. will take advantage of "double stacking" in this crevice. BCM's "Universal" ColonyLodge may house the widest range of species including little brown bats, Mexican free-tailed bats, Indiana bats, big brown bats, Southeastern myotis, Northern long-eared myotis, Pallid bats, Florida bonneted bats, Western long-eared myotis, cave myotis, Yuma myotis, evening bats, Tri-colored bats, Pallas' mastiff bat, and others.
Each ColonyLodge ships finished, with all interior surfaces permanently roughened by hand for the best "bat-holds" possible. We do not use screen material for baffles, which can shred over time and may trap bat pups. Our decorative bat design on the front serves as a vent that helps prevent bats from overheating. ColonyLodge also features a vertical vent on the rear. This will provide a desirable temperature gradient from very hot at the peak to ambient at the bottom.
"I've helped build a log cabin (2x). Built a greenhouse, kingsize bed, coffee tables, several other projects myself. Needless to say, I think I'm fairly competent with my DIY skills, but even I know when to call "uncle" when someone does it better! BCM's Universal Four Chamber bat house is incredibly well done! Worth every single penny! Very impressed. Now...let the bats come!" - Sharon via Facebook
Which color bat house is best for you? For most northern states and high elevations, choose black, brown, or green. Opt for tan in warmer climates, such as the Gulf Coast states and low elevations/deserts of AZ, NM, and CA. Please refer to our online manuals which will assist you with site determination, installation, and long-term maintenance tips.
Highly durable weatherproof body
Can accommodate approximately 210 myotis or free-tail bats. The calculation is based on 2 bats per linear inch of roost space, double stacking the wide crevice, and using the attic space against the roof. Larger bat species would have significantly less capacity.
Custom bat-shaped front vent and vertical rear vent for air-transfer
Rear exit vent allows bats to cool off on a Perch Panel, included with all Mount Kits.
Simulated shingled roof with wood-grain exterior
Available in 4 colors (Black, Tan, Dark Green, and Dark Brown)
Seamless exterior shell significantly outlasts any wooden bat house
Suitable for at least 14 North American bat species
Special interior Attic Ledge favored by pups
Self-cleaning; all droppings fall out naturally
Dimensions: 24" x 18" x 5.75" (~20 lbs)
4 Chambers (both 0.75" and 1.50'' spacing for nationwide use); mount kit creates a 5th chamber.
What's included?
Assembled ColonyLodge bat house
Watertight roofing screws for attaching the ColonyLodge to our Wood Post, Siding, or Brick Mount or to your own mount/wood surface. (Mount kits are sold separately)
Cordless drill or screwdriver or wrench with 1/4'' socket
We have Mount Kits available for attaching this bat house to a post, siding, or brick/stone which will add another chamber of roost space. A readily available wood post is a pressure-treated 4" x 4" x 16' or 4" x 6" x 16' (better) which is cemented 2.5'+ into the ground. You can fasten two 2''x6''x16' boards together to create a warp-resistant 4x6x16'. Use a post protector/saver to double the life of the post if in wet areas. Mount bat house to the short edge of a 4''x6''.
America's bats are an essential part of a healthy environment. Nevertheless, many bat species are in alarming decline, largely because of unwarranted human fear and persecution and the loss of natural roosts. You can help by putting up a bat house. You'll benefit directly from having fewer yard pests and will enjoy learning about bats and sharing your knowledge with friends and neighbors. Few efforts on behalf of wildlife are more fun or rewarding than helping bats. 32 pp, Paperback. By Merlin D. Tuttle, Mark Kiser, and Selena Kiser.
2013 edition. The Bat House Builder's Handbook, at the time of publication, was the definitive source for bat house information. As primary predators of night-flying insects, bats play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature. By consuming vast numbers of pests, they rank among humanity's most valuable allies. Just one little brown myotis can catch a thousand or more mosquito-sized insects in an hour, and a colony of 150 big brown bats can catch enough cucumber beetles each summer to prevent egg laying that otherwise could infest local gardens with 33 million rootworms. Cucumber and June beetles, stinkbugs, leafhoppers, and cutworm and corn earworm moths--all well-known pests--are just a few of the many insects consumed by these frequent users of bat houses. In addition, many pests flee areas where they hear bat echolocation sounds.
The goal is to preserve America's most widespread species in sufficient numbers to maintain nature's balance and reduce demands for chemical pesticides. Thanks to a decade of BCI-sponsored bat house research 14 species of North American batsare covered in the bat houses described in this handbook, including threatened and endangered species such as the Indiana myotis and Wagner's bonneted bat. Bat houses are being used from Mexico and the Caribbean to British Columbia and Newfoundland.
Heavy-duty Seamless "No Maintenance" Resin Exterior • Made in the USA • Multiple Crevice Sizes for Nationwide Use • Attic Pup Ledge • Rear Vent Exit • Rear Perch Panel cool off crevice • Free membership to Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Researching bat houses since 1990, BCM has designed a low cost, long lasting bat roost with updated features perfect for any backyard! Our one-piece, UV-resistant resin outer shell will outlast any unmaintained all-wood bat house on the market; no painting required.
Each ColonyCabin ships finished, with all interior surfaces permanently roughened by hand for the best "bat-holds" possible. We do not use screen material for baffles, which can shred over time and may trap bat pups. Our decorative bat design on the front serves as a vent in addition to three vents on the rear. Besides providing a desirable temperature gradient from a very hot roof to ambient, bats can exit the back onto a Perch Panel included in the mount kit, or pass into other ColonyCabins or the BCM bat houses on the same post.
Which color bat house is best for you? Select black, brown, or green for most northern states and high elevations. Select tan for warmer climates such as all the Gulf Coast states and low elevation/desert of AZ, NM, and CA. Please refer to our online manuals which will assist you with site determination, installation, and long-term maintenance tips. Actual colors may differ slightly than what is depicted online.
Highly durable UV-resistant weatherproof body- no fasteners penetrate the shell!
Holds ~126 myotis or free tail bats! (calculated 2 bats per linear inch of roost space.)
Custom bat-shaped front vent and rear vents for air-transfer
Rear exit vent allows bats to cool off on a Perch Panel, included with all Mount Kits.
Available in 4 colors (Black, Tan, Dark Green, and Dark Brown)
Seamless exterior recycled resin shell, significantly outlasts any wooden bat house
Suitable for at least 14 North American bat species
Special interior Attic Ledges favored by pups
Self-cleaning; all droppings fall out naturally
Dimensions: 25" x 19" x 3.75" (~16 lbs)
3 Chambers (both 0.75" and 1.00'' spacing for nationwide use), mount kit creates a 4th chamber on sunny days.
What included?
Assembled ColonyCabin bat house; no paint required.
ColonyCabin Mount, can be attached to a wood post, building siding, or brick; appropriate hardware included.
Lag bolts and watertight roofing screws for attaching the ColonyCabin to the ColonyCabin Mount.
Cordless drill or wrench with 9/16'' & 1/4'' socket
We have Mount Kits available for attaching this bat house to a post, siding, or brick/stone which will add another chamber of roost space. A readily available wood post is a pressure-treated 4" x 4" x 16' or 4" x 6" x 16' which is cemented 2.5'+ into the ground. You can fasten two 2''x6''x16' boards together to create a warp-resistant 4x6x16'. Mount on the 4'' side. Use a post protector/saver to double the life of the post if in wet areas.
By Merlin Tuttle & Danielle Cordon, 2022. Hardbound. Why build bat houses? Because bats are essential. They protect our crops, reduce use of pesticides that can cause cancer and dementia, and even help protect us from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile. However, they are in alarming decline, often due to loss of natural roosts.
Armed with this handy guide from Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation (MTBC), you can have fun helping both bats and your neighborhood. We summarize decades of discoveries by more than a dozen leading experts to provide step-by-step instructions and diagrams for their favorite designs. Some of their conclusions will surprise you.
Whether you buy or build bat houses, your success will improve when using this guide. Follow the building advice or look for vendors who meet the high standards required to gain MTBC's Seal of Approval. And if you achieve exceptional success, or even unexplained failure, let the authors hear from you at MerlinTuttle.org.
Most of all, enjoy your bats and share your experiences with friends and neighbors!
Dr. Merlin Tuttle has studied and photographed bats worldwide for more than sixty years. He founded and led Bat Conservation International (BCI) for nearly thirty years, then left BCI in 2009 and founded Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation (MTBC).
Dr. Tuttle has published his classic research on bats in leading journals, contributed five articles to National Geographic, and lectured at institutions of science, from Harvard and Princeton Universities to the Smithsonian and British Museums. He is recognized as the father of modern bat conservation and is credited with saving the now famous Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony in Austin, Texas from extermination.
His unique photography and communication first led to the global appreciation of bats as safe, invaluable, and even adorable and likable creatures. No one has better demonstrated the power of combining captivating photos with sound science to win friends instead of battles for bats. Nor has anyone better demonstrated how conservation can benefit humans. Tuttle's legendary photos and experience provide invaluable guidance and inspiration that must be preserved and shared for future generations.
A comprehensive work intended for anyone maintaining captive bats, Bats in Captivity is the only multi-volume series of its kind, detailing the captive care of bats worldwide. This volume comprises 25 papers by 37 contributing authors. It contains information on the legal aspects of maintaining and shipping bats, plus papers on developing traveling trunks and loan boxes, the use of ultrasonic mobility devices in education programs, conditioning and training bats for public demonstration, their use in outreach programs, and exhibiting bats in zoological institutions. In addition, there is comprehensive information on excluding bats from man-made structures, as well as how bat houses and artificial roosts are constructed and used. Susan M. Barnard, Editor, 2012, 332 Pages. Hardbound.
Contents
Bats and the Law
Legislation
Shipping
Public Education
Suggestions for Developing Traveling Trunks and Loan Boxes
The Use of Ultrasonic Mobility Devices in Education Programs
Conditioning and Training Bats for Public Demonstration
Bats in Outreach Programs
Exhibiting Bats in Zoological Institutions
Bat Management: Excluding Bats from Man-made Structures
An awe-inspiring tour of bat world by the world’s leading expert
With nearly 1500 species, bats account for more than twenty percent of mammalian species. The most successful and most diverse group of mammals, bats come in different sizes, shapes, and colors, from the tiny bumblebee bat to the giant golden-crowned flying fox. Some bats eat fruit and nectar; others eat frogs, scorpions, or fish. Vampire bats feed on blood. Bats are the only mammals that can fly; their fingers have elongated through evolution to become wings with a unique, super-flexible skin membrane stretched between them. Their robust immune system is one of the reasons for their extreme longevity. A tiny bat can live for forty years.
Yossi Yovel, an ecologist and a neurobiologist, is passionate about deciphering the secrets of bats, including using AI to decipher their communication. In The Genius Bat, he brings to vivid life these amazing creatures as well as the obsessive and sometimes eccentric people who study them–bat scientists. From muddy rainforests to star-covered night deserts, from guest houses in Thailand to museum drawers full of fossils in New York, this is an eye-opening and entertaining account of a mighty mammal. 350 pp. Hardcover. 2025.
Now availabe for preorder. Shipping October 1st. You may also order autographed copies to be shipped on Oct 21 after the upcoming North American Symposium on Bat Research to be held in Fort Collins, Colorado where the author will be signing books during lunch on Thursday.
Bat advocate Niki Desautels celebrates the astonishing diversity of bats, revealing their unique behaviors, habitats, and physiology while making a compelling case for stewardship and conservation. In For the Love of Bats she shares a vivid, place-based exploration of the West’s only flying mammals, blending natural history with in-the-field experiences. By by Niki Desautels. Illustrated by Anneke Wilder. 280 pages, 2026, Soft bound.
Each chapter delves into fascinating details--from echolocation and hibernation to feeding habits and migration--while connecting these traits to broader ecological patterns. Also included are an additional brief guide to all 32 species commonly found west of the Rockies, resources for learning more, tips for observing bats, guidance on creating backyard habitats with bat houses, and recommendations for top destinations on public lands to witness bat activity.
Despite their importance, nearly 200 bat species are endangered globally. With compelling narratives, fascinating science, and actionable conservation advice, For the Love of Bats invites readers to embrace the wonder of these extraordinary mammals--reminding us that bats are not just survivors of the night, but vital architects of healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
