Benji & Bandit's Squirrel House

If I had to pinpoint the exact time in my life when my passion for woodworking was ignited, it was during a life-changing season in late summer of 2018, when two innocent baby squirrels, Benji and Bandit, tumbled from my tree and into my heart. The story behind the creation of their squirrel house is a testament to the love and care that I felt for them.

So naturally, crafting a home for these little ones seemed like a good idea. The squirrel house I built for them wasn't just a simple wooden structure, but a reflection of my commitment to provide them with a safe and comfortable space.

I invite you to take a moment to watch the heartwarming video, "The Story of Benji & Bandit," and delve into the details of the squirrel house I built. I promise it will be time well spent.

The Squirrel House

If you had the chance to watch the video, The Story of Benji & Bandit, well now you know what drove me to build a squirrel house and its accompanying feeder. After having hand-raised B&B for nearly 3 months, I felt like I was their mamma, and needed to keep my eye on them once they were released back into the wild. Since they would be released in our backyard, which was already largely populated with squirrels, I felt like building them a house where they could retreat to safety would be the motherly thing to do! Are you following me? I also wanted them to learn that this was the place where they would find me every morning and afternoon with a handful of Pecans and some butternut squash.

And so, the project that marked the beginning of my woodworking journey was the construction of the squirrel house and feeder. Although I did not take pictures during the building process, I used natural cedar and a food-grade finish on the exterior to ensure its safety for the squirrels. The cedar material was chosen because squirrels have a tendency to chew on wood to keep their teeth from overgrowing and piercing the bottom of their mouths.

My husband and I both independently purchased two additional squirrel houses online, which we proudly mounted in various trees throughout our backyard. My desire to build a squirrel house from scratch only grew after receiving the pre-made ones. And by the following spring, all three houses were occupied and filled with new squirrel families.

Today, our one-acre property is a bustling squirrel sanctuary, with an abundance of squirrels running and playing. It brings us great joy to see our backyard thriving with life and to know that our little squirrel friends have a safe and cozy place to call home.

If you would like a squirrel house or feeder to place on your propery, please contact Johnna McKinnon at: thecarpentersplace@comcast.net