I think they dont get back in because they are stupid. They follow air current and will work around the top of the funnel and not crawl down to the actual entry to the tube. If you wrap it creating the air current at the end of the funnel they will crawl back up the wire funnel.
I have never used a wire one like that but I believe it will work fine.
I usually make vents from pvc but don't put the horizontal crawl like Barehunter. I think the long crawl complicates the exit but I am sure it works. I am enterested in that wood ladder with wheels. Is that a home made chicken ladder device?
I like the professional look of the bat tubes but can't make myself pay for just the look when other things works as well.I use a lot of caulk tubes like Robb showed. I have professionaled them up by wrapping them with aluminum metal tape then making several cuts in the attachment end and bending them out for screwing, foaming or taping to the building.
I'm like the bat not smart enough to post pictures so you will have to visualize to wrapped tube. It looks good and is pliable for all kinds of mounting situations and cheap enough for one time use if you need to cut to fit and throw away.
To the original post good work and I see that as a very workable mountable crafted tool.

Yeah, what's the deal with the mesh?

Couldnt agree more Bob ALOT can be learned by watching your own work in action. I did watches the first 5 times I used this system. No bats came more than a couple of inches away from the facia. The bats 'KNOW" where the entry point is they've used it for years, so why would they crawl AWAY from their "DOOR"? They Dont. I do like your idea of focusing air flow with luan, I think on larger gable vents I will try that in the future, with my wire horizontal tube. I dont claim to be an expert in anything, bat work included, but I am not a rookie and I would never post a pictorial of an unproven technique.

I am going to stick with Chris's original design. I think covering the mesh will cause the bats to find the end of the tube and they will climb the wire. It has to be slick if you are going to put the air current at end of the tube. I think what makes it work is the air current is focused at the original exit point causing the bats to work that area. The same if you use netting they work the exit point not crawlng down the net then up the net to the entry.
I agree with Bob on most points and he makes great lure but I think
trapper4hire is right this time. If you are going to use the wire mesh.
Bob is right if you have a slick tube exit.

I Have one time in the past on a very large gable vent had a problem with bats not effectively finding the horizontal exit tube. I think in the future I will use Bobs luan idea, this will create a focused air flow for the bats to find the exit tube. With a horizontal mesh exit tube this air flow will disperse, so returning bats will still focus on the luan and not on the end of the mesh tube. I have a large maternal colony of bats scheduled for september and I'm going to try this technique. thanks for the idea Bob.

Wow sure is a lot of differnt ways out there . Seems like having a web first and then the pipe gets them out quickly . I used just pipe with no web and it took about three nights . When I went to the web of 1/4 hardware cloth and put a pipe on that they gone the first night . I still leave for atleast 2 weeks . I doesn't mader I guess what one uses . I like what I use now I works well no need to change it

This is one I did a while back. on the inside I have 1/4 hardware cloth stapled to the back so they can climb up and this old elevator shaft door did not have many (about 30 or so and no young) otherwise I would have added more tubes. But the duel exhaust worked like a charm. I think I posted this last year but others may not have seen it.

Rick I like a big tube to . I see some around here just seems small . I know bats can get small but seems like there out faster with the 2"

90% of my tubes for bats are 2" and rigid. I have some of the plastic light tubes for the spots I need to squeeze the tube in. Not sure of the size tube for the lights but it works good. I also make a few custom sheet metal rectangular shoots that are about 1.5" tall and a foot wide that I can mount on cracks.

Thanks for popping in Bobby J~~~~!

I think i know that building and the ones in the background. there are quite a few colonies using around that location. did you have to clean out the elevator shaft or just do the exclusion.

There are interesting techniques. I bet a lot has to do with the different colony sizes/species that you encounter in your area.

Nice work Barehunter.

.......ain't it the truth !

Firedawg the shaft only had a few in it and they did not want to pay for the clean up. I bet you do recognize the area its in your back yard Athens. We do a lot of bat work in Athens, doing some this week. The only work I do in your area is bat.

yeah, there seems to be a decent ammount of bat work down here. I actually bid on a job the other day right down the road from the building in your post. THat building used to be the old farmers hardware building, and we had a feed mill right across the railroad tracks from it. It got bough out during the real estate boom and a big condo building was built on the lot. If you ever need any help down this way or need me to check on anything for you just let me know.

Firedog many of my commercial accounts have buildings in Athens so they normally call us when a bat problem pops up. The one in the pick is called the Farmers Loft and after going through the basement I can see how it was an old hardware store at one time. Real creepy in the basement. I will be in Athens Thursday for a bit also. I will keep you in mind if I need any help in that area. I appreciate the offer of help.

Looks like a well constructed chicken ladder.

Just thought I'd let everybody know; this project is now complete and everything worked as normal.

I didn't know the bats needed a ladder; thought they could fly.LOL
(That's a chicken ladder, Adam. Used for laying against steep roofs and is NOT free-standing. Works like a hook ladder.
Great info., everybody.