subject: How To Strategically Set Up A Security Or Infrared Wildlife Camera [print this page] Most security and infrared wildlife cameras are designed to be mobile. A special feature with these cameras is their ability to sense motion. The motion detection system triggers the camera to take a video or a series of still photos once it detects some movements. This is obliviously a major advantage since one will not have long footages captured even during periods of dormancy.
To get the most of these cameras it is essential to learn how to properly and strategically set them up. Spy camera for home security should especially be intelligently set up. The following are some of the most crucial points that you should consider when setting up these cameras.
The security of the device
The level of security that your camera will need should be given serious consideration especially if you are using the camera to capture wildlife activity. If you are using the camera to take footages of badgers and red squirrels intruding into your garden at night, then placing the camera in a bush, or simply mounting it on a post, is enough.
However, if you intend to use the camera in an area that receives high human traffic, advanced security measure will need to be taken. A good idea would be to simply mount the camera high enough such that it is not easily accessible by people of ill intentions. In this case, you should remember to position the camera such that it is able to capture ground movements. Alternatively you could use a security cable kit or lockable mounting straps.
The cameras detection zone
The market today provides digital cameras that have an adjustable detection zone. You should therefore ensure that the detection zone of your camera is set such that it only captures activities in the area of your interest.
Think of this, for example. You are interested in capturing the activities of a deer that is likely to be about 10 to 15 meters away. If you do not set your cameras detection zone well, it could be triggered by a vehicle that is 20 meters away. If this happens at a time when a deer was in sight, you will have missed out on your target.
Some cameras in the market today have a test mode. You simply need to activate this mode after mounting the camera, walk in the area you want to target and see if the camera detects your movements. Better still, if you have a friend dog, you could set up baits in the target area and as the dog trails them, you set up the camera to pick up his movements.
Type of footage
A good wildlife or spy camera will give you the flexibility and the choice of the type of footage you want to capture. You can take video clips of various lengths or a number of still photos. It is you to choose the duration between the still shots or the next time the camera is triggered.
Some cameras take black and white images during the night and coloured ones during the day. You can set them up to automatically switch to colour mode when it is daytime.
The purpose for taking the footages
This is definitely the most important consideration. Most people use a wildlife camera to capture nocturnal activities of wild animals around their homes, just for the fun of it. In this case, the only important this is to ensure that the camera is angled appropriately and, of course, the detection zone is set properly. You may also need to employ other tactics such as scattering a few chunks of food in front of your camera if you want to capture close details of the targeted animals.
It becomes a little trickier when setting up a spy camera for home security or a behind the scenes covert spy camera. It is very essential that people do not recognise or locate the camera, so you will need it intelligently mounted on the most unexpected places. Think of a spy camera, complete with a motion sensor system on eyeglasses, baseball cap or a USB flash disk. It becomes even better when it is mounted on teddy bear, a clothes hook or a picture frame since you can carry it around and use it wherever you like.
