Artificial roosts for bats: education and research. The "Be a Bat's Friend" project of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence

Published source details Agnelli P., Maltagliati G., Ducci L. & Cannicci S> (2011) Artificial roosts for bats: education and research. The "Be a Bat's Friend" project of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy (English, 1994-), 22, 215-223.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide bat boxes for roosting bats Action Link

Provide bat boxes for roosting bats

A replicated study in 2007–2009 across Italy (Agnelli et al 2011) found that up to a fifth of bat boxes were used by bats during the first year after installation, and use increased with box height and time since installation. The proportion of bat boxes used by bats increased in each of three years after installation (year one: range 12–21%; year two: 26–35%; year 3: 40%). Bat box use was also found to increase with the height of the boxes above the ground (data reported as correlation coefficients). Bat boxes were wooden with a single internal chamber and one entrance at the base. Boxes were installed by volunteers (total number of boxes not reported) following a public information project and advertising campaign. Monthly checks for signs of use (presence of bats or bat droppings) were carried out for approximately 300 bat boxes. Bats were not identified to species and details of bat box locations or habitat types were not reported.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)