Go Batty! As crazy as it sounds, consider having a bat box or bat house in your garden. Contrary to what we are made to believe, bats are actually friendly animals and they are wonderful mosquito and insect repellents. A single bat can eat over 6,000 mosquitoes a night! That is about how many bite me when I am outside. They love to feast on them and consume more than birds or pretty much anything else that feeds on them.
Guano (bat droppings) is also a great fertilizer for the garden but beware that there is a lot produced. Do your research before using it and also before purchasing and placing the bat box. You are going to want it at least 12′ off the ground and away from your home. They are going to need plenty of space for flying in and out of the box. The box will need to be exposed to full sun for most of the day. It is important that the box is located in the right place to attract the bats. The specs and type of material is very important for attracting the them and having them return. It needs to be at least 2′ tall and 16″ wide with about a 1″ opening. If you have a farmers market in your town, there is probably someone that makes these. If not, you can find them on the internet.
Just think, if everyone had a bat house, outdoor events would be as pleasant as they are in the movies!
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