10/03/2026
Last summer, in the middle of a brutal Texas drought and heatwave, Breyana Elwell's husband set up a small fan on their porch simply to keep mosquitoes away. What happened next changed their entire household routine. "We left the fan on when my son and I came inside," Elwell recalled, "and I happened to peek out the window and one was just sprawled out on the porch railing right in front of the fan." A squirrel, in full "splooting" position, flattened against the wood and soaking up the cool air. Elwell, who admits she actually has a lifelong fear of rodents, found herself unexpectedly moved by the sight. "He stayed there for quite some time. He looked like he was just in so much relief," she told the Washington Post. The next day, two squirrels showed up. Soon, Elwell was leaving out water and snacks alongside the fan, and what started as one lucky squirrel's discovery blossomed into a full backyard "squirrel resort," nicknamed "Nut Braunfels" after their real hometown. The setup now includes a vintage dollhouse, mini picnic benches, a water fountain, decorative statues, and multiple fans, with ice-cube treats a necessity in the over-100°F heat. Elwell spends about two hours each morning setting it up and between $100 and $300 a month maintaining it. "I never thought in a million years this would be something I would turn into a hobby," she said, but watching her sons delight in the daily visitors made the unexpected project worth every bit of effort.