MassWildlife: Five Years of Bat House Monitoring

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December is a season of gratitude—and this year, we're shining a light on MassWildlife's volunteer bat house monitoring program. Thanks to the dedication of 23 volunteers across Massachusetts, all 34 bat houses at 30 sites were monitored regularly during the summer months in 2025 despite mosquitoes, summer storms, and busy schedules. Over the past five years, a total of 53 volunteers have contributed to the program. Seven volunteers have participated every year since the start of the program, providing consistency and invaluable expertise that guides and strengthen the project.
 
Massachusetts is home to nine bat species. Several, including the little brown bat and northern long-eared bat, have suffered steep population declines due to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat colonies across North America. Summer roosts are essential for bat survival because they provide females a safe, warm place to raise their pups.
 
Bats roost in natural areas like tree cavities, and in structures like house attics and barns. Bat houses play an important role in conservation by providing alternative summer roosting habitat when other suitable sites aren't available. Properly designed and placed bat houses can support colonies of dozens to hundreds of bats, giving them a secure location to rest during the day. By relieving pressure on human structures, bat houses also help reduce conflicts between people and bats.
 
Results from bat house monitoring are as follows:
  • Year 1: 16 percent occupied, 26 percent showed potential use
  • Year 2: 7 percent occupied, 10 percent showed potential use
  • Year 3: 10 percent occupied, 23 percent showed potential use
  • Year 4: 6 percent occupied, 15 percent showed potential use
  • Year 5: 15 percent occupied, 9 percent showed potential use
Although bats can take several years to adopt artificial roosts, the signs of activity we see each summer are promising. Bat house occupancy varies, which is expected since bats naturally rotate between multiple roosts. These results show steady signs of bat activity and a strong likelihood that the houses will continue to be used in the future.
 
Volunteer bat house monitoring efforts are helping MassWildlife understand species distribution and abundance in Massachusetts, which bat house designs and placements are most successful, and how bat populations respond to changes in habitat availability. Every observation helps build a clearer picture of bat ecology in our state, informing both research and conservation strategies. Thanks again to all of our volunteers for your dedication to bat conservation.

Tags: bats,   MassWildlife,   

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Friday Front Porch Feature: Allendale Pines North

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for an inexpensive home to raise your family in? Then this might be the home for you. And if not, there's a couple other options.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week we are showcasing model homes at Allendale Pines North.

Teton Management is opening its new manufactured housing development next Allendale Pines at 395 Cheshire Road, and has three different model homes to choose from.

The Monroe with a full porch and with a half-porch, and The Aspire are available to move into in March. 

All the models have three bedrooms and two baths in 1,280 square feet, and include two parking spaces. The Monroe full-porch is on the market for $194,900, Monroe half-porch $189,900, and The Aspire for $204,900. View a video tour here.

The lot rent is $550 a month and it includes trash removal and recycling, as well as water and sewer. Tenants are responsible for their own utilities and lawn care/snow removal. Dogs and cats are allowed, for up to two pets.

We spoke with Val Whaling from Teton Management about the new homes.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

The three models — Monroe Full- Porch, Monroe Half -Porch, and The Aspire — are Titan Home products manufactured by Champion Homes and stand out in the current market because:

  • The purchase price of these homes is well below current market rate single-family homes in Berkshire County.

  • The 5 Star Energy-Efficient rating (featuring energy-efficient windows and high- performance insulation) and one-year warranty on the home, sets these homes apart from older, stick-built homes.

  • These homes are built to strict HUD standards and include structural integrity in order to meet federal standards for durability, safety and wind resistance.

Are there any stand-out design features? 

Stand out features include: open concept floorplan, covered porches, stainless steel appliances, large laundry room /mudrooms, and large glass walk-in showers.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

First time homebuyers/ professionals preferring home ownership vs. renting, empty nesters wanting to downsize, and cost-conscious individuals preferring the affordability of these homes.

What's the neighborhood like? 

Allendale Pines North will be comprised of 22 brand-new homes, on individual lots, set on beautiful property, neighboring the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The property is located at 395 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, offering proximity to retail shopping and dining. Additionally, Allendale Pines North property is well managed by a reputable owner/operator. (All adult community residents are approved via community application approval process.).

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space? 

"Imagine the cost savings of owning a brand-new, energy-efficient home, easy to maintain and allowing the convenience of modern day and easy living, in a quiet, well-managed community."

What does the home come with? 

Included are: Stainless steel Whirlpool appliances (refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, and gas stove/oven), and closets equipped with shelf/hanging rod. Plus an 8-by-10-foot Amish built shed, two wooden entrance stairs with wooden handrails and black wrought iron spindles, two-car driveway, sidewalks and brand-new water/sewer infrastructure.

You can find out more about these homes on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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