Bat Habitat

Trees

In Washington many of our bats rely on trees. Bats roost hanging throughout trees and create maternity colonies and hibernaculum in hollows. They also forage among foliage and above the canopy. Researchers also believe Hoary bats use the tallest trees on the horizon to navigate during migration.

Native trees that bats use 

  • Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) 

  • Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) 

  • Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) 

  • Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) 

  • Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) 

  • Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

Snags

Standing dead trees known as snags are essential bat habitat. The heat let off in decomposition help bats stay warm. Bats will roost, form maternity colonies, and overwinter in holes and crevices of snags.

Photo by Georg Eiermann on Unsplash

You can help bats by providing habitat that supports bats and their prey.

Water

Bats don’t land to drink, instead drinking “on the wing”, meaning they swoop down and get water in flight. Therefore, bats need a larger body of water to drink from than other animals do. Lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, cisterns, reservoirs, and large animal water troughs can all provide water for bats. Protecting your natural water sources from pollution and contaminants can benefit bats.

Food

Bats in Washington all eat insects, and you can attract the insects bats love to eat by creating bat habitat in your gardens and yards. Many nocturnal pollinators such as moths and beetles seek out flowers with white or yellow blooms, and are attracted to fragrant plants. Plant List.

Native plants that attract prey for bats:

  • Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii)

  • Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum)

  • inside-out flower (Vancouveria hexandra)

  • Oso Berry/Indian-plum (Oermleria cerasfiormis)

Photo by WDFW

Bat Houses

Bat Houses are one way we can support bats while working to protect their natural habitats. Bat houses must be constructed for the habitat the bat is in, and Washington bat houses have specific criteria just for our local species. Visit our Bat House Central for more info on local bat needs, house building plans, and local suppliers. Most bat houses sold commercially in our area, do not support the needs of Washington bats.