Bats!

Bats are an important part of our Minnesota ecosystems. Seven different species of bats are native to Minnesota--little brown myotis, big brown bat, northern myotis, tri-colored bat, silver-haired bat, eastern red bat, and the hoary bat. 

Big Brown Bat, Image from wikimedia commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Furryscaly_-_Countertop_Bat.jpg

All native Minnesota bats are quite small, with most weighing less than one ounce.  All Minnesota bats are insectivorous. This makes them wonderful mammals to have around the garden, as they will reduce mosquito populations. Bats also eat beetles, and can be used to help control unwanted pests like the Japanese Beetle.

Making the bat house

Populations of bats are decreasing in Minnesota, as habitat is being destroyed. Bats often nest in hollowed out trees which, in the urban landscape, are removed quickly.  Putting up a bat house in your yard can help provide habitat and a safe nesting space for bats! I decided to build one for the Display Garden out of some recycled cedar (remember the arbor that blew over in a storm?).

Finished Product

Basic construction of a bat house is pretty straight forward. It's basically a box made of rough wood (or with notches cut into it) with some ventilation and an opening in the bottom.  The house can have one or many chambers, depending on how complex you are willing to make it.
I made a single chambered box, similar to the plans from the Organization for Bat Conservation. Check out their website. Build a bat house
For more information on Minnesota's bats, visit the MN DNR website. DNR on Bats