Animal Nestings and Wood Products

23/01/2026

🦉✨ Hi there, I’m the White-faced Owl – Africa’s little master of disguise!
Don’t let my size fool you – I may only be 22 cm tall, but I have BIG tricks.
🔹 I can puff up to look twice my size 🪶
🔹 Or flatten myself to “disappear” into a tree 🌳
🔹 I feed on rodents, insects & small birds
🔹 I nest in tree hollows… and I also love owl nest boxes!
But old trees are disappearing fast, and I need safe homes. That’s why Animal Nestings and Wood Products builds high-quality owl nest boxes – protecting owls like me AND giving you natural pest control.
👉 Order your owl nest box today – Veronica Els 0729425069
let’s protect wildlife together!

Dear Africans, this is just an ordinary and natural bird. There is nothing evil about it.

23/01/2026

Our new specially designed homes for the Bushbabies, Owls, and Genets were made possible thanks to the amazing team at HOT 102.7 FM & Hot Cares. We truly appreciate all that you have done. 🐾❤🐾.
Thank you to Animal Nestings and Wood Products for designing these beautiful houses for our animals in rehab.
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Located in Limpopo Province, South Africa, Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation is a registered NPO and Section 18A(1)(a) PBO and runs a fully permitted Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, accredited by the NSPCA.
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We take in injured and orphaned indigenous wildlife with the goal of rehabilitating them for release back into the wild. Please support our work to help wildlife. We cannot do it without you.
Paul Roy Oxton 072 478 1808
Carina Crayton whatsapp 083 588 3550

23/01/2026

🐾When Wild Hearts Wander Into Our Lives🐾

Wild animals are incredibly vulnerable when they appear in our neighbourhoods and on our farms: especially if they’re injured, disoriented, or frightened. Many have been harmed by domestic pets or injured by man-made structures or motor vehicle collisions. Sometimes they are simply lost and overwhelmed in unfamiliar surroundings.

For those of us who love animals, the instinct to help is powerful. But even the most heartfelt rescue attempt can unintentionally cause more harm than healing. Without the right experience, knowledge and tools, well-meaning actions can lead to suffering or even death.

🚫 NEVER attempt to catch a dangerous injured wild animal on your own! Wait for professional help, while keeping an eye on the animal.

Please understand that:
💔 Keeping a bird of prey warm against your body can result in its death.
💔 Handling a wild animal can result in its death.
💔 Feeding a bird ProNutro can result in its death.
💔 Giving a mammal cow’s milk can result in its death.
💔 Forcing water down a bird’s throat can result in its death.
💔 Lifting a tortoise incorrectly can cause internal damage.

If you find a wild animal in distress, the most important thing you can do is keep it safe, quiet, and calm while you wait for professional help and guidance. Here’s how:

Minimize Stress - incredibly important! 💚
🐾 Place the animal in a small, ventilated box lined with a clean, soft towel or cloth.
🚫 Never use dirty towels or blankets: they can introduce harmful bacteria or irritants.
🐾 Keep the box in a quiet, dark place, away from pets, children, and noise.
🚫 Avoid touching or talking to the animal. Even gentle voices and movement can be terrifying.
🚫 Do not smoke near the animal. Smoke and strong smells can cause respiratory distress and worsen trauma. This is especially important with Birds of Prey.
🚫No selfies. Flash photography, close contact, and handling for photos can cause panic and injury. Respect the animal’s dignity and distress.

🔥 Provide Gentle Warmth
If the animal feels cold and you’ve been advised to warm it, place a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in a towel beside - not under it.
🚫 Never use direct heat, heating pads, or your own body warmth. Birds and small mammals can overheat or go into shock.
🚫 Do Not Feed or Give Water
Feeding the wrong food or forcing water can be fatal.
Many wild animals are dehydrated or in shock, and their systems cannot handle sudden nourishment.

🛡️ Protect Yourself and the Animal
Injured wild animals may bite, peck, scratch, or lash out in fear.
Always use a towel or gloves if you must move the animal, and only do so if absolutely necessary. Your safety matters too, as cuts and bites can carry infection or disease. Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling a Wild Animal. Disinfect any cuts or scratches on your person immediately, and seek medical assistance.

Every species has specific needs. That’s why it’s essential to contact a permitted Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre or your closest veterinarian as soon as possible. These professionals are trained, authorized, and equipped to provide the care that wild animals truly need.

In South Africa, it is illegal to keep indigenous wild animals, including birds, without the proper permits. This law exists to protect both the animals and the people who care for them.

So if you find a wild animal in distress, please pause. Don’t feed, don’t treat, don’t try to fix.
📞 Call the right people.
💚 Let compassion guide you to expertise.
🐾 Make the best decision for the animal - not just the kindest one, but the safest one.

Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation is a registered NPO and Section 18a(1)(a) PBO and runs a fully permitted Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center near Crecy, Naboomspruit, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
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We take in injured and orphaned indigenous wildlife with the goal of rehabilitating them for release back into the wild. Donations are what enable us to do our work.

Paul Roy Oxton 072 478 1808
Carina Crayton whatsapp 083 588 3550

12/01/2026

🌿 Grateful. Proud. Inspired. 🌿
What a privilege for Animal Nestings and Wood Products to be associated with
Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation (Limpopo) 🦉💚

We are deeply honoured to be ✅️named their preferred supplier of nest boxes, ✅️recognised for quality, durability, and outstanding craftsmanship.

We had the joy of creating: • Nest boxes for lesser bushbabies & bush-tailed bushbabies
• A new home for genets
• An owl house for the White-faced Owl

The most rewarding part?
Seeing rescued wildlife accept their new homes so quickly 🏡✨
These nest boxes will soon be released together with their wild residents—a true symbol of hope and second chances.

Every nest box placed is more than wood and screws…
It’s a step towards healing, conservation, and coexistence.

Thank you, Carina Crayton & Paul Roy Oxton , for the incredible work you do—and for trusting us to be part of your journey 🌱

📸 Photos shared with permission

📢Do you want to do something meaningful for nature?
📞072 942 5069 Veronica Els to order
Based in Thabazimbi - Courier nationwide

12/01/2026

A woodpecker's tongue is so long that it wraps around its skull to protect its brain from over 1000g of acceleration when it's hammering away.

08/01/2026

Just look at these beautiful mushrooms. Both pics are from Thabazimbi district, Limpopo.
I've never seen them before here. Can someone please assist with an ID?
Are they poisonous?
Thanks. Veronica Els

06/01/2026

It do happens that Wildlife live close to humans BUT wildlife is NOT pets!!
That include not only tortoises, but those "cute" bushbabies, genets and squirrels as well!!

Thank you Wildlife Crime Information Network
for each rescue.. thanks to all involved for reporting these criminals, and thanks to all caregivers for caring & rehablitation of our precious wildlife.

𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗: 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗦 - 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 - We are urging the public to leave tortoises where they are found.

We are very concerned about the increasing number of reports received via our hotline from members of the public who have witnessed individuals stopping along roadsides to remove tortoises and load them into vehicles.

➡ Tortoises crossing a road is not lost, it is simply crossing the road that wasn’t there before, trying to get to habitats and resources it needs and knows. Please 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 take them home, you think you are doing the right thing, but 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧!! It's not only illegal to remove them from it's natural habitat, you are also signing its death warrant.

🐢 Their natural habitats are being threatened and removing them from the wild harms conservation efforts.

🐢 They require special care and environments that are difficult to replicate in captivity, leading to poor health and shorter lives.

🐢 Wild tortoises in captivity suffer from stress, which causes natural, normally dormant, disease agents such as viruses, bacteria, internal and/or external parasites like ticks, to come to the fore. This inevitably leads to disease.

🐢 Even if they survive all of the above, you run the risk of genetically contaminating resident populations.

🐢 Meanwhile, runny nose syndrome spreads like wildfire in the otherwise healthy local population, and before long, nature conservators are confronted with serious losses in the local tortoise population.

🐢 You need to have a permit from nature conservation authorities to collect, transport or to keep a tortoise in South Africa.

🐢 Tortoises may seem like a hassle-free, cute pet, but did you know that keeping tortoises without a permit is not only illegal, but could be detrimental to the animal's well-being?

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚!! Tortoises are a protected species under South African law. The public must familiarise themselves with the law before picking up a tortoise and taking it home.

Ignorance of the law is not a defence.

Removing, transporting, or keeping tortoises without the required permits is illegal and constitutes a criminal offence. Individuals found in possession of tortoises may face severe fines or imprisonment - "nobody is above the law".

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 - 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘄 - 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.

If you see or suspect that someone has collected, is transporting or keeping tortoises illegally, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗧 ☎

Try and provide WCIN - Wildlife Crime Information Network with the following info:

🚙 Details of vehicle (reg no, make, colour)
🏠 Address (street name, street no)
↔ Direction travelling
📷 Photo or video (if possible)
📍 Location (pin dropped)

Report 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 Crimes via our HOTLINE: Whatsapp or call: 079 643 9556 or email report@wcin.org.za (all information provided will be treated as confidential).

We have a great responsibility as South Africans to protect our indigenous wildlife from abuse and to ensure they are sustained and kept for future generations and the sustainability of the species.

Let's take hands and work together to 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 wildlifecrimes & trafficking.

06/01/2026

Different owl species prefer different owlhouses
Animal Nestings and Wood Products -proud manufacture of durable solid pine nestboxes for wildlife.
From owlhouses to batboxes... bushbaby homes to nesting boxes for hornbills & other captivity birds - we do it all.

Based in Thabazimbi, Limpopo - courier Nationwide

📞 Veronica Els 072 942 5069

Barn owls consume up to 1,000 rodents per year — roughly three mice or voles every night. Their silent flight and acute hearing allow them to hunt in complete darkness, targeting crop-damaging rodents that emerge after sunset. A single barn owl family can replace thousands of dollars in rodenticide costs for farms and rural properties. They don't harm cats, dogs, or chickens, and they avoid human contact entirely. If you hear their eerie screeching call at night or see white wings ghosting over fields, you're watching the most effective rodent control available. Install nest boxes on barns or poles.

31/12/2025

Have you received advice from us or purchased one of our nest boxes or feeders?
Please consider taking a few minutes to leave a review.
Click on the link / post your review in the comment/on our page
Your feedback helps us improve and reach more people who care about wildlife 🌿🐾📢
Het ons vir jou raad gegee of het jy een van ons dierehuise of voerders gekoop?
Neem asseblief ’n paar minute om vir ons ’n resensie hier te los.
Jou terugvoer help ons verbeter en meer natuur-liefhebbers bereik.

Post a review to our profile on Google

31/12/2025

✨ Prosperous 2026! ✨
Every nest box and feeder we build & supply is a symbol of HOPE — for wildlife, nature, and the future we share.

🦉🐦 Together, we can do so much more.
Farmers, businesses, and nature lovers — your action matters.
👉 Join us on our journey in 2026
✔️ Order a nest box or feeder
✔️ Support natural pest control
✔️ Invest in biodiversity
✔️ Share with your friends, family, colleagues & network

— Animal Nestings and Wood Products - proud manufacture & supplier of solid A-grade Pine nestboxes & feeders for wildlife.

Rudi & Veronica Els 072 942 5069