Response to Brack and Sparks.

We appreciate the comments by Brack and Sparks (2021) regarding our cautionary perspective piece on how unsuitably hot bat boxes could pose threats to bats. However, we firmly assert that the complex microclimates in bat boxes (and other artificial refuges) are understudied (see also Cowan et al., 2021) and that the cavalier use of unsuitable boxes could expose bats to deadly temperatures. To provide safer artificial habitat for bats, we urge careful consideration of bat box design and placement, as well as additional research on box microclimates and bat responses to boxes. [Extracted from the article]