Austin Cedar Bat House (Single Compartment)

Bring home a piece of Austin’s famous bat tradition! Inspired by the world-renowned colony that gathers under the Congress Avenue Bridge, this single-compartment shelter lets you bring natural wildlife conservation and eco-friendly pest control straight to your own backyard—no matter where you live. Designed to attract North America’s most effective night watchmen—such as Mexican free-tailed, evening, and big brown bats—it holds a cozy roost of roughly 20 to 50 bats. While daytime pollinators like bees and butterflies tend to your flowers, bats handle the night shift, devouring up to 1,000 mosquitoes, moths, and plant-damaging pests per hour without harsh chemicals.

Crafted from weather-resistant natural cedar with rust-resistant zinc-chromate hardware, this shelter features a distinctive decorative burned bat icon on the front and specialized interior landing grooves along the front and back for a secure grip. Left unpainted, the natural cedar will beautifully age into a rustic silver-gray patina, though the exterior can also be painted or stained to match your outdoor space (just keep the interior and landing grooves natural for the bats!). The lightweight frame is easy to mount 15 to 20 feet high on a tree, pole, or exterior wall in a sunny spot. Ships directly from the Austin Visitors Center, making it a memorable souvenir, thoughtful gift, or functional addition for garden lovers nationwide!