Western Cape · ZA · Est. handcrafted
Give a

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Handcrafted owl boxes, bat boxes, catios, chicken runs, and ethical rodent-proofing — built across the Western Cape and shipped to anywhere beyond, by Mike, a carpenter with a soft spot for raptors and a sharper one for sustainability.

Chat on WhatsApp → ✉ Email Mike
★★★★★ 100% recommend · 12 reviews · 1.4K FB followers
Mike at work in a vineyard
Mike · vineyard install · Stellenbosch
§ 01 · Meet Mike

Built by hand. For the wild things.

Mike — better known as the Owl Box Man — has been hand-building wildlife habitats out of the Western Cape for years. What started as a few owl boxes for friends has grown into a small operation trusted by gardeners, farmers, conservationists, and pet owners from Cape Town to Botrivier.

Every box is made to order from quality timber, sized for the species it's meant for, and installed properly — whether that means scaling a 150-year-old farmhouse in 45° heat or threading a falcon box into a stand of pines. No mass production, no shortcuts.

"Owls don't move into just any box. You have to build the right one, in the right tree, at the right height."
100%
Recommend rate
1.4K
FB followers
13+
Habitat types
W. Cape
Service area
§ 02 · Services

Handcrafted habitats — and the proofing that protects them.

Every box is made to order from quality timber, sized for the species it's meant for, and installed properly. No mass production, no shortcuts.

01 / 04

Owl & raptor boxes

Species-specific boxes built to the right size and entry hole, mounted at the right height, in the right kind of tree. Owls don't move into just any box.

Eagle owl boxesBarn owl boxesFalcon boxes
02 / 04

Cat enclosures & runs

Catios and "cat jungle gyms" that let your cat live a rich outdoor life without becoming a hazard to local birdlife — or themselves. Also: chicken runs that actually keep things out.

CatiosCat jungle gymsChicken runsGarden cat-proofing
03 / 04

Bats, geckos & insects

The unsung heroes of every healthy garden. Bat boxes, gecko boxes, and insect habitats designed to bring back the species that quietly do the most work.

Bat boxesGecko boxesInsect habitats
04 / 04

Proofing, cleaning & walks

Rodent and bird proofing done without poisons, plus excrement cleaning that's as thorough as it sounds. And when the work's done — guided birding walks.

Rodent proofingBird proofingExcrement cleaningBirding & nature walks
From a stand of pines
to a 150-year-old farmhouse —
we build homes for the night shift.
§ 03 · Process

Three steps. One craftsman.

STEP 01

Talk it through

WhatsApp Mike with where you are, what species you're hoping for, and what's nearby. He'll tell you what's realistic.

STEP 02

Built to fit

Boxes are made to order from quality timber, sized for the right species — eagle owl, barn owl, falcon, bat, gecko.

STEP 03

Installed properly

Mike installs personally — climbing rope, ladder, or harness — at the right height, in the right tree. No half-jobs.

§ 05 · Species Guide

Who lives where. And in what.

Every species needs a different box — different size, different entry hole, different mounting height. Here's a quick guide to the three most common Western Cape owls.

Spotted Eagle Owl

Bubo africanus

The most common owl in the Western Cape — and the easiest to attract with a well-sited box.

Habitat
Suburban gardens, farms
Box spec
Eagle owl box · 600 × 400

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Silent, pale, brilliant rodent control. A single pair can clear a vineyard's mice problem in a season.

Habitat
Open farmland, vineyards
Box spec
Barn owl box · 800 × 400

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Shy and rare in suburbia, but happy in well-treed gardens with quiet corners.

Habitat
Forested kloofs, mature gardens
Box spec
Wood owl box · 500 × 350
§ 06 · From the field

100% recommend. Every time.

★★★★★

"Thanks very much, Mike! Beautiful addition to the garden and a great help to the owls 🦉 Highly recommended!"

— Liz NewdigateFacebook · 2 years ago
★★★★★

"I've recently joined nature walks at The Pink Geranium and wow, what an eye opener! You don't have to be a plant or bird expert to come away changed."

— Anne-Marié Le RouxFacebook · 47 weeks ago
§ 07 · Questions

Things people ask before they call.

How long until an owl moves in?+
Anywhere from a few weeks to a season. Mike sites every box for the species and habitat that's actually around — but owls take their time. Patience is part of the deal.
Do you service my area?+
Most of the Western Cape — Cape Town through the Winelands, Overberg, down to Botrivier. WhatsApp your location and Mike will tell you straight whether it's worth the trip.
Are catios really cat-proof?+
Yes — built right, they keep the cat in and the wildlife (and other cats) out. Mike scopes the space and builds to fit, no off-the-shelf kits.
What about rodent proofing without poison?+
All Mike's proofing work is poison-free. Mesh, sealants, exclusion. Better for owls, better for pets, better for everyone downstream.
Do you offer talks or walks?+
Yes — guided birding and nature walks across the Cape, plus public talks (CapeNature, biosphere groups). Get in touch if you'd like to organise one.
§ 08 · Get in touch

Give us a hOOt.

WhatsApp
+27 72 375 0134 →
Phone
072 375 0134
Email
daxiedvd@gmail.com
Facebook
@OBMHOOT
Instagram
@OBMexplore
Service area
Western Cape, South Africa

For owl boxes, catios, bat habitats, ethical proofing, or a guided nature walk — WhatsApp is fastest. Mike replies personally.

Chat on WhatsApp →
© The Owl Box Man Western Cape · ZA Give a hOOt about the environment.