“A woman builds a’squirrel spa’ to aid local wildlife in surviving the heat”
Photo Credit (Freepik)
Squirrels were the last creatures Breyana Elwell anticipated becoming friends with when she initially came to New Braunfels, Texas. But her viewpoint shifted when the local fauna began to suffer during a harsh heat wave. What started out as a modest deed of goodwill quickly grew into a whole squirrel “resort,”” a haven for the furry guests seeking shade from the Texas heat.
It all began when Breyana played outside with her toddler and then turned on a fan. A curious squirrel happily settled down next to the fan after noticing its refreshing breeze. Breyana saw more squirrels gravitate toward the fan in search of relief as the heat rose and the drought deepened. Motivated to lend a hand, she started installing more fans. Eventually, businesses noticed her TikTok recordings of the cooling squirrels and donated her further supplies.
Her garden has since evolved into a fully functional squirrel spa. For the squirrels to relax, eat frozen fruit, and cool off in the fan’s wind, Breyana has built little tables, routes between trees, and even a water fountain. She takes two hours every morning to put this squirrel paradise together, and every evening she takes great care to take it down so her dogs can’t harm it.
Breyana finds the project therapeutic, despite the fact that it requires some time investment. She remarked, “It’s not just for them—it’s for me too.” The squirrels are a family-friendly pastime that her sons, who are 3 and 10 years old, also like to watch.
Even with the cost and work, Breyana is not sorry. It’s worth it since it makes myself and other people happy, she remarked. Furthermore, even though it’s generally discouraged by experts to feed wild animals, squirrels are accustomed to seeing people in cities. Her arrangement is more about creating a little haven in the scorching sun than it is about taming the wild.
Breyana’s unexpected passion has turned into a touching example of how small deeds of kindness, whether directed towards people or animals, may foster deep and important relationships.
