Owls definitely eat bats, but I don't know more than that.

Barn owks mostly eat mice and voles. They have shared the planet with bats for a few million years and have no appreciable effect on bat populations.

In studies that have been done on Barn Owl pellet analysis, I don't know of any that have found bats. If they do take bats, I am sure it is purely opportunistic. They take primarily voles and mice. Therefore, you needn't worry about Barn Owls feeding on your bats. I think morphologically, they would have a difficult time catching a bat since they are designed to hover and pounce on their prey.

BN

I was told by someone who had bats living in a tree in the neighbouring garden that she had seen owls attacking them as they left or returned to their roost.
On the other hand 2 years ago we had a holiday in France in a converted priory. There were lots of bats if several sorts. There were also owls nesting in one of the buildings, and they always flew off to hunt.

I suspect an alert bat can detect owls with its "radar" and escape being caught.

That's neat!! What a great story!! thanks OkieDawn! Sarah

I've never heard of bat houses actually attracting bats. The best thing you can do to attract them is to stop using pesticides of any kind, since many bat species feed on flying insects. We see them occasionally, and we live in an old, built-up suburb. They will roost in attics if they can get in, but that's not a great idea, since bats do carry rabies. Welcome them, but not in your house.

Elaine - I know of several bathouses that have succeeded, but it takes a lot of effort to find the right place for them as the bats are very picky. I think a lot of people put up unsuitable houses that they purchase at Home Depot or the like, and then put them up any which way and never see a bat. That doesn't mean the houses can't work, though.

One thing is said, don't try to attract Barn Owls if you have a
Great Horned that stays around. Great Horned will kill the Barn owl babies.
Otherwise Barn Owls are in a serious decline and if you can help them out I would certainly try to do so. I don't think bats are an issue with Barn Owls. Maybe a different type of Owl?
Mary

How do you attract barn owls? What are Great Horned?

I have lots of voles/mice and I thought it might be a good idea to try to attract some owls - I have no idea how though....

I observed a Barn owl hunting bats last night, using a flashlight. It moved very quickly and ranged over an 11 acre field. It makes a continual almost buzzing call unlike ant owl call I have heard. I think it is using echo location to find the bats. We have a large maternal bat roost next door..

Owls do not use echolocation.