Bats in my sails

[Pete]

I'm going crazy with bats getting inside my sails under my sail cover. They roost in there during the day leaving bat-tirds in the sails and on the boat deck. Has anyone else had this problem. How can I get rid of them.

On 8/21 I tried the "bat re-location program" I motored my sailboat over by Little Bear and flushed them out. Hope they enjoy their new home.

[ddemers]

We had the same problem last Oct., except it was soccer balls. (Sorry, couldn't resist) Have you tried one of those stupid fake owls?

[madrasahs]

I usually get a rain of sunflower seeds when I raise my sail at the dock. (Bird feeder + innovative chipmunk needing sunflower seed storage). "Fighting" Mother Nature usually ends up frustrating -- it's more effective to work with Mother Nature.

Bats aren't too fussy where they "hang out". I've found them in my woodpiles, eaves, under the house, and under my mailbox. They're also beneficial critters, and would probably prefer roosting in a bathouse that you can hang up near where your sails are stored. (Positioning it on a tree is important, though -- no sun during the daytime).

Bat houses can be pretty elaborate -- if you're handy with a saw. Here's plans for an economy model, like mine, which has concentrated my bat "problem" on a tree away from the house. http://www.batcon.org/bhra/economyhouse.html

'Course, you can always buy one on the Internet or hardware store.

Or, this late in the season, you can leave off the cover and flake the sail on the boom with bungees.

[JohnNH]

Try hanging a couple of old socks filled with about a half dozen moth balls. Not a nice smell but it probably burns their little eyes. It also keeps birds, mice and chipmunks away.

John/NH

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Supposedly those ultra sonic pest controllers work on bats. Though that requires an outlet or perhaps a power inverter. A good mouser might work, but a cat may not appreciate being stranded on the boat and could tear the sheets getting the bat. :eek:

[Tired of Waiting]

Put some bat home boxes on the trees near the dock. You will attract Bats and the ones in the sails will live there instead of the sails. It's good to have bats around. Do you know how many bugs they eat each night? Tons.

ToW

[PROPELLER]

1 Bat can eat as much as 7,000 mosquitos in 1 evening.

[KonaChick]

Propeller, your knowledge on just about every subjuct under the sun is amazing! How lucky we are that you share it with the forum daily! :D

[CMG]

cut the blow off your boat and get yourself a big block.

[PROPELLER]

Konachick, Books, magazines & educational TV programming & oh yes the internet are great sources of knowledge!

[Tired of Waiting]

1 Bat can eat as much as 7,000 mosquitos in 1 evening.

See, I was right. It's a well know FACT that mosquitos in NH around the lake weigh in at 1-1/2 pounds each. Just ask a local. So 1-1/2 times 7000 = 10500 Pounds Divided by 4000 = 2.625 tons :D

ToW