“Want to offer bats a home?” That’s the question answered here at the Fledermausquartier in Dresden. It is a haven for these fascinating creatures. This isn’t just about admiring architecture. It’s about understanding a vital part of our ecosystem.
The Fledermausquartier focuses on providing shelter for bats. There are different types of bat habitats. Some bats prefer crevices and cracks. Others like tree hollows. Some even choose large, undeveloped attics. Each type of habitat meets different needs.
Did you know bats change homes between winter and summer? Summer quarters need to be warm, dry and draft-free. Winter roosts require high humidity and stable temperatures. These temperatures should be between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius. Bats also need different roosts for different activities.
Wochenstuben are communal nurseries. Several female bats gather to raise their young together. There are also Tagesquartiere. These are daytime roosts for individual bats, often males. These bats often switch locations during the summer. Balzquartiere are mating roosts. Male and female bats meet here to mate.
If you want to help bats, you can create a Fledermausquartier at your house. Focus on species that live in crevices. These bats originally used caves and rock fissures. Artificial structures now offer similar conditions. You can create crevices behind wooden or slate cladding. Leave small openings so the bats can get behind the cladding. Attics with small openings also work well. Alternatively, you can build and hang crevice boxes under the roof.
The size of the box matters. Larger boxes are more likely to attract colonies, not just individual bats. The width of the crevice is also important. Bats like tight spaces. They prefer their backs and bellies to touch the walls. A crevice width of 1.5 cm is ideal. Providing several options increases the chance of occupancy. Crevice boxes can also be installed inside buildings. In barns, for example, you can mount them or create roosts along the roof beams. You can even attach them to trees.
Other bat species live in tree hollows. They live in old woodpecker holes or decaying cavities. To help these bats, use cavity boxes. These are best placed on trees, especially where several large trees grow together. You can buy different types of cavity boxes from specialist nature retailers.
Dresden’s Fledermausquartier highlights how easy it is to help these animals. By creating suitable habitats, we support their survival. We help maintain the ecological balance. The city of Dresden, known as the “Florence of the Elbe,” is not only rich in art and architecture. It also provides vital homes for bats. Remember, every small action counts. Even a simple crevice box can make a big difference in the life of a bat.