Since its first publication in 1988, America's Neighborhood Bats has changed the way we look at bats by underscoring their harmless and beneficial nature. In this second revised edition, Merlin Tuttle offers bat aficionados the most up-to-date bat facts, including a wealth of new information on bat house design and current threats to bat survival.

**Unlock the Secrets of Bats Transform Your Backyard with "The Ultimate Guide to Bat Houses"** Imagine your garden buzzing with life, free from pesky insects, and contributing to a healthier environment. "The Ultimate Guide to Bat Houses" is your comprehensive companion to making this vision a reality. Dive into the fascinating world of bats and discover how these nocturnal wonders play a crucial role in pollination, seed dispersal, and natural insect control, making them indispensable to our ecosystem. Explore the most common bat species in North America, their migratory patterns, and feeding habits in easy-to-understand sections. Learn the unmatched benefits of installing bat houses and how they can enhance your garden's biodiversity while providing a safe haven for bats. Design and build the perfect bat house with detailed dimensions, materials, and step-by-step construction guides. Whether you're a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a beginner, you'll find all the tools, materials, and safety tips you need. Dive into expert advice on the ideal locations for installation, proper mounting techniques, and common mistakes to avoid. Once your bat house is set up, this guide walks you through the process of attracting bats, understanding their behavior, and creating an environment they can't resist. With practical tips on monitoring and maintenance, you'll keep your bat house in top condition, ensuring it remains a bustling hub of activity. "The Ultimate Guide to Bat Houses" goes beyond just the nuts and bolts. It delves into the importance of bat conservation, legal considerations, and how to safely interact with these fascinating creatures. Discover heartwarming success stories and inspiring case studies from other bat enthusiasts who have made a difference. Get involved in your community with ideas for bat house building workshops, school programs, and community science projects. Explore additional resources, books, websites, and support groups that will deepen your knowledge and passion for bat conservation. Transform your backyard today and become a guardian of the night with "The Ultimate Guide to Bat Houses". Your journey to supporting these remarkable creatures starts now.

"An interesting and enjoyable read. . . . Rich detail presented in well-written, logical fashion about the bat fauna of this interesting island." --Acta ChiropterologicaThe Caribbean islands are home to some of the most unusual species of bats. A number of them are endemic, living in no other region of the world. On Puerto Rico alone, thirteen different species have been found. Bats are the only naturally occurring mammals there; all others were introduced after settlement of the island, first by the Taíno Indians and later by the Spanish.Puerto Rico is important for study because of its human history, tropical climate, size, relief, and isolation from the mainland. It is a useful model for understanding how historical, geographic, and environmental factors interact in a controlled environment to affect the diversity and complexity of its resident species.This volume is the first complete compilation of the distribution, natural history, taxonomy, and ecology of the bats of Puerto Rico. The coauthors, all experienced researchers, introduce the book with a discussion of Puerto Rican ecosystems and an overview of facts and misconceptions about bats in general. The main text provides detailed descriptions of each of the thirteen Puerto Rican species, as well as illustrations of their faces and skulls. The book concludes with keys to the characters of these bats and a complete glossary. Maps show the distribution of each species on the island.Bats of Puerto Rico is designed to be an easily used source of information for the general public as well as a complete descriptive record for ecologists, mammalogists, and wildlife biologists.