Trees already provide a wide range of benefits to your yard and the environment as a whole. But there are ways you can use your tree to further contribute to the ecosystem. Here’s how adding a bat and/or owl house to your yard benefits you, them, and the local ecological system.

Bat and Owl House Benefits

If you have a bird house in your yard or have found squirrels nesting in your tree, you already know that various animals find comfort in the branches or trunk hollows, whether it’s there naturally or not. Unfortunately, the rise of commercial and residential development is cutting down natural housing options for many species. But there’s a way to help.

Building owl and bat houses in trees provides a range of benefits for the species, environment, and homeowner. From natural pest control to enhancing biodiversity, here’s how everyone wins with one tree house.

1. Pest Control. Owls hunt rodents, such as mice, rats, and voles. Bats spend the evening consuming insects, such as mosquitoes. If you’re constantly facing issues with these pests, attracting their natural predators to your yard is one eco-friendly way of dealing with the problem.
2. Conservation. Provide a safe place for owls and bats to roost and breed and help maintain or increase their populations and counter habitat loss from deforestation.
3. Education. If you don’t often see bat or owl activity in your area, attracting them with housing give you an opportunity to observe them up close, fostering environmental awareness and a deeper appreciation for wildlife.
4. Balanced Ecosystem. A more diverse environment helps maintain balance in the local food chain. With less need for chemical pest control options, other plants, insects, and wildlife also thrive.

Installing owl and bat houses in trees mimics their natural nesting preferences, increasing the likelihood they’ll use the shelters. But before you start building, you should ensure your tree is strong and healthy enough to hold a proper house.

Call Elite Tree Care for a Tree Evaluation

You wouldn’t want to build a house on a shaky foundation. If you’re worried about the current state of your tree, Elite Tree Care can help you assess its condition and ensure its future health. From cabling and bracing to support its structure to pruning for optimal growth and shape, our tree care experts are ready to help preserve your tree so you can help preserve the environment.