x
Breaking News
More () »

Snohomish 11-year-old builds squirrel picnic tables for pandemic pastime

Making furniture for furry friends may put her through college

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — Eleven-year-old Avery Gail has taken up power tools during this pandemic. 

“The boredom sets in especially when you can't see your friends. So this has kinda supplemented - yeah this has been her entertainment,” said her mom Genelle LeRoue.

This one-girl factory is building something that's become essential to our stay-at-home lives: Squirrel furniture.

The idea came from social media. Earlier in the shut down, a man shared a Facebook post of a squirrel picnic table he made, and the world became obsessed. So did Avery.

“I wanted to make one so I asked my dad to help me.”

Soon Avery was cutting wood, staining tiny picnic tables, and selling these creature comforts online.

"I've loved animals ever since I was born. Me and my mom have always been animal lovers,” she explained.

Her online business is called Wild Woods and it’s booming. Feedback includes a lot of pix of ‘customers’ enjoying the furniture, and some fan mail:

“They think it's cool and they can't believe somebody my age has been making them."

Wild Woods even has its own product tester: a squirrel that comes by at around 7:00 every morning to have a sit and grab a snack from the corncob mounted to a tiny prototype table mounted in the family’s yard.

Credit: Avery's Dad
Squirrel testing prototype

Avery has a plan for her profits: "Probably college or getting a new car. Most likely a jeep."

She was active in soccer, softball, basketball and dirt bike riding pre-pandemic, and she’s looking forward to seeing friends, and doing sports again.

But after the stay at home order ends, she thinks she also might keep making furniture for furry friends.

KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email.

Before You Leave, Check This Out