Surveillance (e.g. trail camera) Archives - Lost Pet Research and Recovery

Cat Feeding Station Best Practices to Avoid Coyotes

Danielle Robertson — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 18:46:31 +0000

Cat feeding stations are commonly used to feed feral cat colonies and outdoor/barn cats. They are also frequently used to help locate a missing cat. When searching for a lost cat, the feeding station is often set up with a surveillance camera to verify that the cat is present before setting a humane trap.

There is a lot of disagreement around the use of cat feeding stations since they can attract other wildlife including predators that may harm cats. In particular, coyotes are a potential threat to cats in most areas of the US. Some pet detectives will never or rarely use a feeding station due to the potential risks involved. However, there are also potential risks to not providing food if the cat cannot be found and caught quickly.

Coyote visits cat feeding station

When used for feral cats, most Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) sites recommend feeding the cats once a day at a set time, and only leaving the food out for 30 minutes. Any remaining food and bowls should be picked up to avoid attracting any wildlife. Unfortunately, this is not practical when using a feeding station for a lost cat. Many lost cats only come out at night and generally avoid human activity. It often takes several days and sometimes a week or longer of setting a feeding station before the lost cat appears on camera.

What can be done to reduce coyote activity around a cat feeding station? If you are in a hurry for the answer, skip to "what we can learn from this study."

Table of Contents

What We Can Learn from Published Research Studies on Feral Cat Feeding Stations

Study Methods

Study Results

What we can learn from this study

Study Limitations

Using Elevated Platforms for Cat Feeding Stations

Other Potential Methods to Protect Cats from Coyotes at a Feeding Station

Use of Coyote Deterrents

Reduce Coyote Access to the Food

Provide Escape Routes or Secure Shelter for the Cat

Future Research

Literature Researched

What We Can Learn from Published Research Studies on Feral Cat Feeding Stations

I was only able to locate a single study on coyotes and cat feeding stations: Confluence and Implications of Cats, Coyotes, and Other Mesopredators at a Feral Cat Feeding Station (Mitchell et al. 2022).

Study Methods

This study focused on a single TNR cat colony in Rhode Island, US. Over the course of two years, three different feeding methods were employed. Visits of cats, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks were measured at the feeding station using a wildlife camera.

Method A: Large quantities of food at ground level. Between 3-5 lbs of dry food was heaped in a large salad bowl or two "deli" trays. This method was also what was used prior to the start of the study.

Method B: Large quantities of food elevated. An on-demand gravity feeder was secured on top of a one-meter-high table. Animals had to climb or jump onto the table and then push open a flap at the bottom of the feeder storage bin to access the food. The feeder was never left empty.

Method C: Small quantities of food at ground level. Between 1.25-1.5 lbs of dry food was placed in a bowl on the ground.

In all cases, food was placed out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8:00 and 8:30am.

Study Results

The following animals visited the cat feeding station: cats (64% of visits), raccoons (22%), coyotes (9%), and skunks (5%). Blue jays, turkeys, mice, squirrels, grey fox, red fox, and opossums were also present but were not measured.

Boxplot from "Confluence and Implications of Cats, Coyotes and Other Mesopredators at a Feral Cat Feeding Station" (Mitchell et al. 2022)

Overall, cats visited the feeding stations less when coyotes, raccoons and skunks were present. The most cats and fewest coyotes visited when large amounts of food were placed on an elevated platform.

Method A: When large amounts of food were placed on the ground, cats visited mostly during the day. Coyotes, raccoons and skunks primarily visited at night. During this time, 30% of the feral cats disappeared from the feeding station.

Method B: When large amounts of food were placed on an elevated feeding station, more cats visited at night. Raccoons also ate from the feeding station. Coyotes and skunks were not recorded.

Method C: When small amounts of food were placed on the ground, cats visited throughout the day and night. Cat activity was highest when the food was put out in the morning. Coyote and raccoon visits were minimal at night, and no skunks appeared. The food was generally gone before night.

What we can learn from this study

Based on this study, an elevated feeding platform works best if you want to maximize cat activity at the feeding station while minimizing coyote activity. This also allows you to more safely provide a large quantity of food. With more food present, some food will be available at all hours. This increases the chances of getting all cats in the area (and hopefully the lost cat) to make an appearance at the feeding station.

The second best option was only providing small amounts of food on the ground during the day. This may also reduce coyote activity at the feeding station unless you live in an area where coyotes are frequently active during the day. However, if this method were used for a lost cat, the food could easily be gone well before the cat shows up (usually in the middle of the night).

Another interesting finding of this study was how long it took before all cats in the area showed up on camera. With large quantities of food, it took 3-5 days to get an accurate estimate of the number of cats in the area. In contrast, with small amounts of food, it took 8-11 days. This is something to take into consideration when you determine how long to leave up a feeding station before concluding that the lost cat is not present.

Study Limitations

Unfortunately, this seems to be the only study on cat feeding stations and interactions with wildlife (at this time). The study was conducted on a single feeding station in Rhode Island in a suburban area. Since coyote activity is highly variable throughout the country, this study really needs to be replicated in other areas. In areas with significant daytime coyote activity, the results might differ.

During the study 40% (8/20) of cats disappeared and most occurred during Method A when large amounts of food were on the ground. During this time coyote visits were highest (14% of visits). The researchers conclude that the missing cats were killed by coyotes, but they never found any cat remains. It certainly is possible that the cats were killed by coyotes, but it is also quite possible that they left for other reasons.

Using Elevated Platforms for Cat Feeding Stations

The elevated cat feeding station used in the this study was described as "an
“on-demand” gravity feeder secured on top of a one-meter-high table... Animals had to climb or jump on the table and push open a flap at the bottom of the feeder’s storage bin to access dry food. Feeders could hold up to 3.2 kg (7 lb) of food; the feeder was never left empty" (Mitchell et al. 2022). I reached out to the authors to try and get a photo or illustration of the elevated feeding station, but I never heard back.

For those interested in using an elevated platform, I found the following resources. These include designs that will limit raccoons, opossums, skunks, and coyotes. In general, minimal elevation (even 1-2 feet) will usually exclude skunks. On the other hand, raccoons can climb just about anything, but they aren't great jumpers.

A minimally elevated cat feeding station may exclude skunks but not other wildlife.

The Ark Workshop offers a variety of cat feeding stations for sale.
For a more permanent structure, here are the building instructions for a raccoon proof feeder courtesy of Shawdowcats.net.

When setting up a feeding station for a lost cat, you probably want something more portable. I sometimes just use a folding table with a box on top to protect the food from the weather. With a large enough table, a trap can also be set up if needed. This set-up works to keep skunks out, but usually not raccoons or opossums. I haven't yet had a coyote show up at an elevated feeding station, so I can't say from personal experience how well this works to exclude coyotes. If anyone else would like to share their elevated feeding station designs, please email photos to info@lostpetresearch.com.

Cat feeding station on a folding table. This will avoid skunks but likely not raccoons or opossums.

One concern that I sometimes have with elevated cat feeding stations is whether it might also exclude some cats. In my experience, not all cats are great jumpers and some cats, in particular old or overweight cats, might have difficulty reaching the platform.

Other Potential Methods to Protect Cats from Coyotes at a Feeding Station

Below are some additional suggestions, but most have minimal to no research that I am aware of. However, I am planning to do additional journal research on these topics.

Lost Pet Research participates in affiliate referral programs including Amazon Associates. If you purchase anything via an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Learn more here.

Use of Coyote Deterrents

There are a lot of coyote deterrents on the market. Unfortunately, many things that will scare a coyote, like loud noises, flashing lights or spraying water, are also likely to scare off a lost cat. The methods listed below are some of the less intrusive coyote deterrents, but it is still possible that they would scare away a cat.

Wolf Urine

Some researchers have found that wolf urine works to discourage coyote activity even in areas where wolves are not present (Wauson and Rogers 2021). In order to be effective, the urine must be applied in a perimeter and reapplied frequently. This study used dispensers that needed to be re-filled every nine days (despite the online instructions stating every 33 days). They also recommend applying the urine high enough to simulate a large wolf. The Predator Pee Store also promotes wolf urine as a feral cat repellent, but I haven't found any research to support its effectiveness.

Predator Deterrent Lights

Nite Guard and Predator Guard are among companies selling predator deterrent lights. These products have one or two small red lights that flash and supposedly simulate the eyes of a larger predator. I haven't yet found any studies to support whether they work or not. There is also the question of whether these would scare a cat if they actually work.

No products found.

Fladry

Fladry consists of a line of brightly colored flags hung along a fence or perimeter. The flags moving in the wind are supposed to scare wolves and other predators from entering livestock pastures. There is some evidence that this works for wolves (at least for a month or two), but at least one study found that it did not work for coyotes (Davidson-Nelson and Gehring 2010). As with other tools, there is some concern that fladry might scare a lost cat as well.

Reduce Coyote Access to the Food

If the coyotes cannot access the cat food, they are less likely to continue visiting the feeding station. This is what this research study found when they put the cat food on an elevated platform. Theoretically, this would also work if the food was made inaccessible in other ways such as placed inside or under something where coyotes could not fit.

Provide Escape Routes or Secure Shelter for the Cat

Alternatively, the food could be placed on the ground, but near suitable escape routes or secure shelter for the cat. This could be near a shed or deck that a cat could hide underneath, but a coyote would not fit. If no natural escape routes are present, one site recommends using 12 inch x 6 foot PVC pipes. These need to be secured in place so they won't roll. The cat may need to be encouraged to investigate the pipe with treats or they might not use it in an emergency.

If you are making more of a long-term feeding station, you might consider building a cat house as an escape shelter and/or for secure sleeping. This should have a door that is just big enough for the cat and a coyote can't enter or get their head inside. For my feral cat shelter I placed a large cinderblock at the entrance to create a secure hallway. (There are no coyotes in my yard, but my feral cat frequently uses the shelter to escape my puppy.) The Feralvilla provides a safe design that has a ground floor entrance and then a second floor sleeping area.

Feral cat house with cinderblock door for protection from dogs and coyotes.

Providing the cat with something to climb is another option. However, I've seen a number of Youtube videos where cats attempting to climb were pulled down by coyotes. In general it seems like cats are not able to climb quickly enough.

These methods seem less than ideal, since the coyotes are likely to continue to visit the feeding station if food is readily available.

Future Research

Clearly more research is needed on this topic. If you use one of these methods or an alternative method to reduce coyote activity around cat feeding stations, please describe it in the comments or email photos to info@lostpetresearch.com. Future research projects will be posted at LostPetResearch.org.

Literature Researched

Davidson-Nelson, S.J. and T.M. Gehring. 2010. Testing Fladry as a Nonlethal Management Tool for Wolves and Coyotes in Michigan. Human-Wildlife Interactions: 4(1): Article 11.

Mitchell, N.C., M.W. Strohbach, M.N. Sorlien, and S.N. Marshall. 2022. Confluence and Implications of Cats, Coyotes, and Other Mesopredators at a Feral Cat Feeding Station. Society & Animals 30: 721-741.

Wauson, M, and W. Rogers. 2021. A test of gray wolf urine to reduce coyote depredation rates on loggerhead sea turtle nests. Journal for Nature Conservation 63: article 126050. Read a full copy of the thesis here.

The post Cat Feeding Station Best Practices to Avoid Coyotes appeared first on Lost Pet Research and Recovery.

Recommended Lost Pet Search Equipment

Danielle Robertson — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 19:27:51 +0000

The following lost pet search equipment is recommended by Lost Pet Research and Recovery based on over 10 years of lost pet recovery experience. Also included are some tools recommended by other pet detectives. If you have suggestions, please add them in the comments.

Search Equipment

I carry the following equipment on almost all my searches. Items used less frequently are noted in the description.

Flashlight

This is my number one search tool that I always carry on a lost cat search and most lost dog searches. My favorite flashlight so far is by Feit Electric. I have an older model of the one shown here. In general I recommend any flashlight with at least 500 lumens, a sliding zoom lens, good battery life, and easy to replace batteries (not specialty batteries).

Feit Electric LED Tactical Flashlight - Aluminum Alloy - Zoomable Strike Bezel...

ULTRA BRIGHT & LONG-LASTING – Utilizing 1700 Lumen for ultimate brightness and conviently...
ADJUSTABLE FOCUS - Sliding head allows for fast light beam focus; widen the beam for larger area...
TWO BRIGHTNESS LEVELS - With the click of the button you can choose between 2 brightness levels...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Knee Pads

I wish that I bought these years ago. When looking for a lost cat, you need to get down on the ground a lot to conduct an effective search. Most often, I only wear one pad on my dominant knee since I find them a little uncomfortable for walking. I think the ones that I own are from Home Depot or Lowes and look similar to these, but only have one strap.

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Digital Camera and/or Cell Phone

I always carry a small digital camera. I use this to search in tight places for hiding cats or dogs. This usually involves sticking my hand in small dark holes and snapping a few pictures. Some people use their cell phone instead to take photos or video, but I find my old camera easier to use. I also use my digital camera to take photos of any animal sightings (with the 10x optical zoom) and to check photos on my SD card wildlife cameras.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical...

9-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
10x optical zoom Leica DC lens; Face Detection
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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Borescope or Inspection Camera

I almost always carry my borescope, but I only use it after first trying to search with my flashlight and digital camera. The small screen makes it difficult to see hiding animals clearly unless you can catch their eye shine. It is most useful for checking in holes, in walls, and under sheds (close to the ground).

The borescope that I purchased in 2018 is no longer available, but for my next model, I plan to buy one with a shorter (perhaps 3-6 foot) rigid cable like this one. The 10-foot cable that I have is too long and not rigid enough after extended more than 3-4 feet. Most of the ones that attach to cell cameras have flimsy cables that aren't much use.

Sale

RIDGID 40043 Micro CA-25 Hand-Held Inspection Camera with 4' Cable, Borescope...

HAND-HELD INSPECTION CAMERA: Offers visual detection, diagnosis, and confirmation in tight spots and...
WATERPROOF CAMERA HEAD AND CABLE: Useful for inspecting areas, gaps, and holes under water, making...
DURABLE AND EASY-TO-USE: Features a 3/4" anodized aluminum camera head for superior durability with...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Capture Net

I rarely carry a net with me, but always keep one or more in my car. These are most often used for lost cats that are found hiding in an enclosed space. Usually I prefer to have the owner lure the cat out or set a humane cat trap and camera. However, if the cat is in a space where they are unlikely to escape or run away, I will use a net.

My primary net is a folding net like the one pictured here. But my net is from ACES with a 17" depth and (presumably) higher quality netting. I also recently purchased a Humaniac Cage Net, but haven't used it yet.

I usually have the owner bring a towel or small blanket on the search. In most cases, I have used this for carrying a found cat and not a net or carrier.

PLUSINNO Fishing Net Fish Floating Landing Net with Handle, Blue 0.9M | Fixed...

SECOND GENERATION FLOATING FISHING LANDING NET -A new floating net head. Two float tubes added to...
FOLDABLE,RETRACTABLE & EASY TO USE - Triangular Shape Design. Telescopic handle. Hoop size...
RUBBER COATED NON-SNAG NET - Made from snagless coated nylon and strong hexagonal structure mesh...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Animal Handling Gloves

When handling an animal in a net, I always wear animal handling gloves. I bought my gloves from ACES and they look similar to these. This design provides protection but also still allows dexterity.

Snappy Snare

I own a Snappy Snare, but have never used it. Whenever I've been close enough to a loose dog to use one, I've never had it on me. However, I'm including it on this list because many dog trappers swear by them.

Surveillance Equipment

These are my most frequently used search equipment for surveillance and capture of lost dogs and cats. Items used less frequently are noted in the description.

Security Cameras

This is my number one tool for finding escaped indoor cats. Learn more here. My favorite are the Blink Outdoor cameras (pictured). I also like the Wyze v3 camera if you are on a budget. Other pet detectives prefer Ring, Reolink or Arlo.

Most of these cameras can be purchased as wifi or cellular versions. The cellular security cameras are usually best for use in lost dog trapping (where wifi is not available).

Blink Outdoor 4 – Wireless smart security camera, two-year battery, 1080p HD...

Outdoor 4 is our fourth generation wireless smart security camera that helps you protect your home...
See and speak from the Blink app — Experience 1080p HD live view, infrared night vision, and crisp...
Two-year battery life — Set up yourself in minutes and get up to two years of power with the...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Cellular Wildlife Cameras

I use cellular wildlife cameras for monitoring humane traps for cats and dogs. Trapping is much safer and more successful with live monitoring of the trap. They are also useful for checking potential sightings.

I use the Ridgetec Lookout and Browning Wireless Defender Pro Scout. I also like the SpyPoint Link Micro if you are on a budget.

Since wildlife cameras are always changing, I suggest checking TrailCamPro.com for the newest reviews and recommendations. Cameras purchased from TrailCamPro include a 2-year warranty and 90-day returns.

SPYPOINT Cellular Trail Camera - 10MP, 80' Detection, LTE-Capable, 0.5sec...

INDUSTRY LEADING VALUE: The LINK-MICRO-LTE cellular hunting camera offers cutting-edge camera...
ULTRA-COMPACT DESIGN: The LINK-MICRO-LTE is remarkably small for any trail or hunting camera, but...
REDUCE HUMAN IMPACT: Nothing impacts the game you hunt more than human pressure. Moving your...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

SD Card Wildlife Cameras

Some people might argue that SD card cameras are no longer useful. However, I find that good quality SD card cameras are less likely to miss taking photos/video of a lost cat or small dog than similar priced wifi or cellular security cameras. So I often like to use an SD card camera in addition to make sure that I'm not missing anything important. They are also still useful in areas without cellular service.

My favorite SD card cameras are Browning cameras. I recommend selecting a camera with a blackout or black flash. A built in cable lock attachment is also a good choice.

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Bundle Includes: Browning Trail Cameras Dark Ops Extreme 16MP Game Camera, Ultra 32GB Class 10 SD...
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Covert Game Camera: With a compact case size of 4.5 x 3.25 x 2.5 inch along with an invisible...

Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Wildlife Camera Accessories

Most cameras require an SD card or microSD card, which is sometimes included. If you have old SD cards lying around, these may not work with cellular cameras. You may also need a card reader for your phone or computer.

For security purposes, I recommend getting a good python cable lock. I usually buy them in a pack so they all have the same key. Some of the cheaper cameras are not compatible with a cable lock.

Good quality batteries like Energizer Ultimate Lithium will make your camera last longer. With lower quality batteries, some cameras may stop taking and/or transmitting photos when the batteries fall below 50% power.

SANDISK 32GB Extreme SD Memory Card, Up to 100MB/s Read Speeds, UHS-I | V30, U...

Master Lock 8418D Python Cable Lock with Key, 1 Pack

Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA 12 Battery Super Pack.

Beikell SD Card Reader,Dual Connector USB C USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader Adapter...

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Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA 12 Battery Super Pack.

$29.22

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Beikell SD Card Reader,Dual Connector USB C USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader Adapter...

Price not available

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Humane Trapping Equipment

I primarily work escaped indoor cat and skittish lost dog cases, so trapping is a large part of my business. Good quality trap brands include TruCatch, Tomahawk and Safeguard. Havahart is okay if you need to find a trap quickly. I recommend avoiding the cheaper traps such as those at Tractor Supply or Harbor Freight.

Humane Cat Traps

For cats, I prefer larger cage traps with sliding rear doors. I have a slight preference for gravity drop doors over spring-loaded. When trapping cats, it's also best to go with a trap that is designed specifically for cats. TruCatch and some Tomahawk traps (Neighborhood Cats and FixNation) are designed with a larger trip plate which is harder for cats to step over.

My favorites cat traps are TruCatch 36D and Fat Cat. However, Tomahawk has a new design gravity door trap that might be even better: GT606 Neighborhood Cats Gravity Trap. I own several of the Humane Way Cat Traps. They are good for smaller cats (less than 12 lbs), but are lower quality traps.

Tomahawk Model GT606 - Neighborhood Cats Gravity Trap with Non-Spring Loaded...

Tomahawk Model GT608 Gravity Trap with Easy Release Door

Tomahawk Live Trap - Model 606NC - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Trap...

Tomahawk Live Trap - Model 608NC - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Trap...

Gravity Style Door

Spring-loaded Door

Sliding Rear Door

30"L x 9"W x 11"H

36"L x 12"W x 12"H

30"L x 10"W x 12"H

36"L x 10"W x 12"H

Price not available

$140.00

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Tomahawk Model GT606 - Neighborhood Cats Gravity Trap with Non-Spring Loaded...

Gravity Style Door

Sliding Rear Door

30"L x 9"W x 11"H

Price not available

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Tomahawk Model GT608 Gravity Trap with Easy Release Door

Gravity Style Door

Sliding Rear Door

36"L x 12"W x 12"H

Price not available

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Tomahawk Live Trap - Model 606NC - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Trap...

Spring-loaded Door

Sliding Rear Door

30"L x 10"W x 12"H

Price not available

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Tomahawk Live Trap - Model 608NC - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Trap...

Spring-loaded Door

Sliding Rear Door

36"L x 10"W x 12"H

$140.00

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Tru Catch 30FCD Fat Cat Humane Live Animal Trap - Easy & Safe Catch & Release...

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Gravity Style Door

Sliding Rear Door

30"L x 14"H x 12"W

30"L x 9"W x 11"H

Price not available

$125.00

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Gravity Style Door

Sliding Rear Door

30"L x 14"H x 12"W

Price not available

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30"L x 9"W x 11"H

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Humane Way Folding 32 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap - Safe Traps for All Animals...

Gravity Style Door

No Sliding Rear Door

32"L x 10"H x 12"W

Price not available

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Humane Way Folding 32 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap - Safe Traps for All Animals...

Gravity Style Door

No Sliding Rear Door

32"L x 10"H x 12"W

Price not available

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For more information on finding and selecting a trap, check out my articles on Best Humane Cat Traps.

Humane Dog Traps

For dog traps, I prefer Tomahawk and Safeguard traps. The larger TruCatch traps have a known "door bounce" issue that sometimes allows dogs to escape.

One trap that I really like is the Safeguard Large Dog Trap or Tomahawk 610C. These traps are 72" long and will catch most dogs. Tomahawk also offers a folding version if you can't fit the rigid model in your car.

If you are on a budget or need to get a dog trap, the Humane Way dog trap is okay. I've used several and they have worked fine. The trap quality is inferior to others and is susceptible to damage over time. I definitely do NOT recommend the CountyLine large trap available at Tractor Supply.

Humane Way Folding 50 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap - Safe Traps for All Animals...

Gravity Style Door

No Sliding Rear Door

50"L x 20"W x 26"H

$197.24

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Humane Way Folding 50 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap - Safe Traps for All Animals...

Gravity Style Door

No Sliding Rear Door

50"L x 20"W x 26"H

$197.24

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For more information on finding and selecting dog traps, check out my article on Best Humane Dog Traps.

Specialty Traps

For hard-to-trap cats, I find a drop trap is invaluable. I have a nice wooden one from Alley Cat Allies, and you can find similar designs on the Drop Trap Design Bank. I also own a metal drop trap from Tomahawk that I like. That one comes with the option of a remote trigger.

Tomahawk Live Trap - Model DT1 - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Drop Trap...

36"L x 36"W x 14"H

$229.99

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Tomahawk Live Trap - Model DT1 - Tomahawk TNR Series Neighborhood Cats Drop Trap...

36"L x 36"W x 14"H

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For hard-to-trap dogs I usually use a custom made enclosure trap. As a last resort I have a Collarum.

Motion Alarms for Trapping

Monitoring the trap with a cellular or wifi camera is the best option if you can't do so in person. The second best option is to alarm the trap using a motion alarm or driveway alarm.

The actual range of the driveway alarm is often far less than the advertised range. Unless you are trapping right outside your house, I recommend getting one with at least a 1/2 mile signal range. I still use the Chamberlain Motion Alarm, but these have been discontinued.

1byone Driveway Alarm Wireless Outside, 1 Receiver 2 Infrared Sensors | Motion...

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Max 1/2 mile range

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Last update on 2026-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pet Trackers

Not exactly search tools, but when you work in lost pet recovery, you do everything you can to never lose your own pets. So I have tested out several different pet trackers.

GPS Trackers for Dogs

Search dog Dante wore a Whistle GPS for most of his life. Whistle has a better battery life than most trackers available. Fi looks like another good one, but I haven't tried it yet. I have also used Tractive, but found the battery life too short. When researching a GPS tracker, battery life is one of the most important features.

No products found.

Trackers for Cats

My own cats have been wearing TabCat radio trackers (formerly called Loc8tor Pet) since 2015. For more recommendations on trackers for cats, see my article.

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Sources for Lost Pet Search Equipment

Amazon is a good source for security cameras and some wildlife cameras. They sometimes sell Tomahawk traps but shipping can be slow. Security cameras can also be found at Best Buy.

Some good companies that sell animal control supplies and traps include ACES and Wildlife Control Supplies. For traps, you can also go directly to the company. Good quality trap brands include TruCatch, Tomahawk and Safeguard.

If you need to find a trap quickly, you can also try hardware stores or feed and grain stores. Most often these will have Havahart traps, which are okay. I'm not a fan of the Easy Set or the Two Door Havahart Traps though as I see more cats escape these. I also do not suggest buying cheap traps from Tractor Supply or Harbor Freight. If the trap material is flimsy, a dog or cat may escape and/or injure themselves.

Visit the Lost Pet Research Store

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Security Cameras: one of the best tools for finding escaped indoor cats

Danielle Robertson — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 21:10:22 +0000

Some of the most effective methods for finding an escaped indoor cat include: security cameras, trail cameras, humane cat traps, physical searches, search dogs, flyers distributed door-to-door and well-designed posters. I recommend using all these techniques, but if I could only use one tool, I would use security cameras.

Continue reading to learn:

Why security cameras are so effective for finding escaped indoor cats
My favorite cameras and those used by other pet detectives
Tips for setting up security cameras to maximize the chances of getting your cat on camera
How to catch your cat after getting them on camera

Table of Contents

Why Security Cameras are so Effective

Selecting a Security Camera

My Favorite Security Cameras

Tips on Using Security Cameras

Example of Effective Camera Set Up

How to Catch your Cat with a Camera

Why Security Cameras are so Effective

Many escaped indoor cats will return home but they rarely meow at the door or wait to be found
Returning home is most common in the middle of the night
Any human activity outside can easily scare the lost cat away
Some cats return home soon but others take days to weeks to first appear

When an indoor cat escapes outside they often enter "Survival Mode" where they hide in silence (even when they hear family members calling for them) and often only come out at night. This behavior can make it seem like they have vanished and zero sightings for a week or longer are not uncommon. Sadly many people give up assuming that their cat is no longer around. However, if you use effective search methods, the recovery rate for lost indoor cats is high (60-80%).

Escaped indoor cats will often try to return home, but usually in the middle of the night. My past research showed that 30% of indoor cats attempted to return home, but with the increased use of security cameras, I now suspect that number is closer to 50% or higher.

Some cats attempt to return home as early as the first night, but nights 4 - 7 are most common. Other cats may take as long as 10 days to 2 weeks to first show up. And some cats are still around and attempting to return home months later. For this reason, I recommend putting up security cameras as soon as possible and keeping them up for at least two months.

Unfortunately, any human activity outside can prevent the lost cat from coming home or scare them away. Many people unwittingly sabotage finding their lost cat by searching outside all night long often night after night. Since most indoor cats are in Survival Mode, a security camera combined with a "House Trap" or humane cat trap is most effective.

Selecting a Security Camera

I recommend getting outdoor cameras that are infrared, water resistant, and motion activated. Wireless wifi cameras are often easiest to set up, but only work within your wifi range. Cellular security cameras are another option, but are more expensive and require a monthly service plan. In either case, you want a camera that will record video and send motion notifications to your phone.

My Favorite Security Cameras

The Blink cameras are my favorite security cameras. I have used the Blink XT, XT2 and the Blink Outdoor. I have not yet bought their newest version Blink Outdoor 4. Blink cameras work with the Blink App, which will send a notification to your phone when any motion is detected. They also offer a live video feed on request.

Blink XT2 camera with twist mount for easy installation

In my lost pet recovery business I usually use at least 2 Blink cameras around the house. Then I use at least one trail camera (preferably cellular) to monitor the yard and/or for checking sightings away from home. For catching the lost cat, I usually use either a House Trap and/or humane cat trap.

The Blink Outdoor cameras are available on Amazon.com and Best Buy. I also really like these flexible twist mounts that allow easy installation in a variety of locations. If you are on a tight budget, the Wyze Cam v4 is another option. This camera is wired, but still weather resistant.

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Other security cameras preferred by some pet detectives include Arlo, Eufy, Nest, Ring and Reolink. Most are Wi-Fi only, but Arlo and Reolink also have cellular options.

Tips on Using Security Cameras

Security cameras work best when placed above and angled down. This way they are less likely to scare your cat when the camera comes on.
If monitoring an entrance, make sure that you can clearly see the steps and/or doorway. Some cats will sneak along the house to the entrance so you may miss them if the camera is facing too far outwards.
Place one camera near the point of escape. I recommend getting at least two cameras. Other good locations are the door most frequently used by everyone. This will have the most scent. Or a back door to a deck or porch. This is often a quieter location with less human activity.
Monitoring the garage door is another option. If left open a foot or so, many cats will enter the safety of the garage. This method works best with a humane trap in the garage or a door open into the house. I don't recommend closing the garage door as a trap unless you have professional assistance! This rarely works and your cat could be injured or killed.
Cameras can also be used to monitor a humane trap. Monitoring a humane trap makes trapping safer and increases your chances of successfully catching your cat.
Turn off all outdoor lights including motion activated lights. Most indoor cats prefer to travel in the dark.
Make sure that the camera is set to a high enough sensitivity that it will pick up a cat-sized animal. I find a sensitivity of 7 or higher works well on Blink cameras, but this may vary based on temperature and weather. I recommend testing yours once set up.
Security cameras are less likely to detect movement if it comes head on. Angle your camera across the entrance for the greatest chance of detection.

Example of Effective Camera Set Up

This Blink camera is attached below a security light using a flexible twist mount. The camera covers the sidewalk, stairs and landing to get the best chance of catching the escaped indoor cat on their return.

How to Catch your Cat with a Camera

Just knowing that your cat is around is great, but if you rush outside when you see your cat, you will likely scare them away. Some people have luck by slowly opening the door, sitting down and using calming signals to attract their cat.

However, many cats will run away as soon as the door is opened. Leaving the door open is often the most effective method to quickly catch an escaped indoor cat. Of course, don't do this unless it is safe to do so and you won't risk losing any other pets. This method is even more effective if you design a House Trap where you can close the door remotely after your cat has entered. If you do this, be sure to test the lag time on the video. You want to be 100% sure that your cat is far enough inside before attempting to close the door.

If you can't leave your door open, a humane cat trap or drop trap are your best options. Make sure that you learn how to safely and effectively use a humane cat trap. For additional help, check out the resources available in the Lost Pet Research Store.

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Can Cats See or Hear Wildlife Cameras?

Danielle Robertson — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 13:53:01 +0000

Orange cat looking toward infrared camera

Wildlife cameras (also called trail or game cameras) are often recommended by pet detectives as a method to help locate missing cats. They can be particularly helpful to determine the presence of an escaped indoor-only cat, since these cats tend to hide nearby and venture out at night. Wildlife cameras are also commonly used by wildlife biologists in animal research and monitoring including studies on both wild and domestic cats. These cameras are generally considered an unobtrusive method of observing animals. However, little research has been done to determine the potential effects that wildlife cameras might have on animal behavior.

Of particular interest to pet detectives and lost pet owners, can cats see or hear wildlife cameras and what impact might this have on their behavior?

Wildlife cameras are electronic devices and make some sound when they take a picture or video though this may be imperceptible to humans. The cameras now come in various flash types including xenon white flash, infrared, low-glow and no-glow. White flash cameras (rarely used these days) will emit a bright white flash that is clearly visible even to humans. With infrared cameras, the bulb display will glow red, but the flash itself is usually invisible to humans. With low-glow or no-glow cameras, the bulb display will glow less or not at all. Infrared cameras are often marketed with the claim that animals cannot see the flash (Meek and Pittit 2012).

The results of this study provide evidence that cats can both see and hear wildlife cameras

Figure 9 from Meek et al. (2014) Camera Traps Can Be Seen and Heard by Animals. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110832.

Meek et al. (2014) conducted a research study where they measured the audio and visual outputs of 12 infrared wildlife camera models. They then compared the hearing and vision ranges of dogs, cats and foxes to these camera values to determine if they can see and/or hear the different models of wildlife cameras. The camera models tested included Reconyx, Scoutguard, Moultrie, Cuddeback, Pixcontroller, Bushnell, and Uway*. All measurements of sound and infrared light were conducted in a laboratory with the camera placed 100 cm (40″) above the ground and 50 cm (20″) from the measuring device. Additional light measurements were conducted with the camera 80 cm (30″) from a field spectrometer.

Evidence that Cats Can Hear Wildlife Cameras

The hearing range for cats is 45 to 64,000 Hz compared to 67-45,000 Hz for dogs and 64-23,000 for humans. The audio output of the different cameras was not significantly different from each other except for the Cuddeback Capture which was louder. Figure 9 (Meek et al. 2014) shows the mean audio output for the Reconyx HC600 camera with dotted lines for the 95% confidence limits. The red dotted lines represent the hearing range of the cat and dog. Where the red dotted lines are below and closest to the black lines, the camera sound can be detected by the cat or dog.

Although cats can theoretically hear the sound of wildlife cameras, their ability to detect these sounds in actual use (compared to the laboratory) is less clear. In all models except the Cuddeback, the sounds emitted by the camera were not significantly different from the background sounds of the laboratory. Meek et al. (2014) conclude that it would be more difficult for animals to hear the cameras with the background of forest noises, especially with increased distance from the camera.

Evidence that Cats Can See Wildlife Cameras

Figure 12 (Meek et al. 2014) shows the mean infrared wavelength illumination for seven wildlife camera models. Camera traps labeled as “no glow” or “covert ops” typically use infrared with wavelengths over 850 nm. Unfortunately, there are no studies available on the range of infrared light that is detectable to cats. However, several studies on marsupials and ferrets found that they could detect infrared light at 539-557 nm and 870 nm, respectively (Sumner et al. 2005; Hemmi et al. 2000; Newbold et al. 2009).

Figure 12 from Meek et al (2014) Camera Traps Can Be Heard and Seen by Animals. PLos ONE 9(10): e110832.

Meek at al. (2014) also provided evidence from unpublished research that cats appear to detect wildlife cameras, including those with infrared flashes over 800 nm, more frequently than other animals. They conclude that this is likely due to their retina sensitivity at 826 nm (Gekeler et al. 2006) combined with their wide field of vision. The researchers further speculate that when animals see an infrared flash that it looks similar to what is seen when one infrared camera records a second camera as in the video below.

While this research provides evidence that cats can see wildlife cameras, further research is clearly needed. Given the lack of sufficient research on the range of infrared light that is detectable to cats, I am not yet convinced how visible the “no glow” infrared cameras are to cats. These cameras can have infrared wavelengths over 900 nm and ferrets (the only carnivore measured) could only detect infrared up to 870 nm.

There is a clear need for further research to determine the effect that wildlife cameras have on lost cat behavior

At this time, I would still recommend using wildlife cameras to search for missing cats. In my eight years as a pet detective, wildlife cameras have proved invaluable in many cases. However, in light of this research, I plan to modify some of my camera use procedures. I also plan to continue researching the potential effects that wildlife cameras have on cat behavior. I just purchased Meek’s (2014) book on Camera Trapping: Wildlife Research and Management, which will hopefully provide much more information on their research and experience with using wildlife cameras.

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Literature Cited

Gekeler, F., K. Shinoda, G. Blatsios, A. Werner, and E. Zrenner. Scotopic threshold responses to infrared radiation in cats. Vision Research 46: 357-364.

Meek P.D., Ballard G-A., Fleming P.J.S., Schaefer M., Williams W., et al. (2014) Camera Traps Can Be Heard and Seen by Animals. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110832. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110832

Meek, P.D. and A. Pittit. 2012. User-based design specifications for the ultimate camera trap for wildlife research. Wildlife Research 39: 649-660.

Newbold, H.G. and C.M. King. 2009. Can a predator see ‘invisible’ light? Infrared vision in ferrets (Mustela furo). Wildlife Research 36: 309-318.

Sumner, P. C.A. Arrese, and J.C. Patridge. 2005. The ecology of visual pigment tuning in an Australian marsupial: the honey possum Tarsipes rostratus. Journal of Experimental Biology 208: 1803-1815.

Hemmi, J.M, T. Maddess, and R.F. Mark. 2000. Special sensitivity of photoreceptors in an Australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Vision Research 40: 591-599.

*Not all links are to the exact model of camera used in the research study.

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When NOT to Use a Tracking Dog to Find a Lost Dog

Danielle Robertson — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:21:20 +0000

The idea of using a tracking dog to find a lost dog is very compelling, but most people who pursue this option do not have a good understanding of how a tracking (or trailing) dog works. In some cases a tracking dog CAN provide useful information for locating a lost dog such as confirming sightings or establishing a direction of travel. However, very few lost dogs are actually found and captured during the search (i.e. a “walk-up find”), which is what most people are hoping for when they hire a tracking dog team.

What many people do not consider is that there are actually some cases when you should NOT try to use a tracking dog to find a lost dog. In these situations a tracking dog is not only a waste of money, but they can actually be detrimental to finding and catching the lost dog. The situations where you should not use a tracking dog to find a lost dog include most cases where there are multiple sightings of the lost dog in a general area, and the dog is running in fear from everyone. This most often occurs with newly adopted dogs and skittish lost dogs. However, even an otherwise friendly dog can enter what is known as “survival mode” (where they run from all people including those that they know) if they are lost in a frightening situation (such as a car crash) or if they are on the run for several days, especially if people attempt to chase or capture them. Sometimes these lost dogs will run for several miles (1-5 is common and 10 or more miles is not unheard of), but in most cases the lost dog will eventually settle down in a place where they feel safe. Generally this safe place is somewhere with food, water, shelter, and (very importantly) where people are not attempting to approach or catch them. In some cases the lost dog will actually circle around and come back to close to where they went missing.

If you you get multiple sighting (even 2-3) of the lost dog in a general area (hopefully less than 1 mile apart), then the lost dog has likely found a safe place to hide out. The last thing that you want to do in this situation is chase the dog out of his newly found haven. If you use a tracking dog, they may help you find out where your dog has been taking shelter and getting food, but in the process you may scare your dog out of the safe place. Likewise, it is a very bad idea to have human search teams go into this area and look for the lost dog, especially if it is a wooded area. Even if they see the dog, they are most likely going to scare him out of the area. In either of these situations, the lost dog may feel pressured to leave the area and find a new safe place, perhaps miles away.

In these types of cases, it is very important to leave the dog alone and encourage others to report sightings, but not to approach or attempt to catch the dog. Most of these dogs are ultimately caught using lure and capture techniques such as feeding stations, calming signals, surveillance cameras and/or humane traps. If your lost dogs fits this profile, you may still want professional advice and/or assistance in catching them from a trained pet detective. If your dog does not fit this profile, then read this accompanying article on Search Dogs to determine if a tracking dog team could help you find your missing dog.

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Wireless Wildlife Cameras and Trap Alarms

Danielle Robertson — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 00:54:42 +0000

Lost dog caught on wireless wildlife camera entering an enclosure trap.

Humane cage traps and enclosure traps are effective methods for catching escaped indoor-only cats, outdoor-access cats lost away from home and skittish lost dogs. However, monitoring a trap is often very labor intensive, especially when set away from your home. Checking the trap frequently (such as every four hours in good weather) is important not only for the well-being of any trapped animal, but also because any time that a non-target animal is caught in the trap is a missed opportunity for catching your own missing pet. For this reason I recommend the use of wireless wildlife cameras or trap alarms. These will alert you when an animal is caught in the trap and you can either release the non-target animal or bring your lost pet home quickly.

Wireless Wildlife Cameras

Regular wildlife cameras (a.k.a. trail cameras) save their pictures to an SD card in the camera that you then need to retrieve to view the photos. There are now a variety of wireless trail cameras available. These cameras will send a picture to your phone or email (almost) every time one is taken by the camera. Some of them require an AT & T or TMobile account, but most now allow you to purchase a pre-paid phone card such as the Go Phone plan from AT & T for only $10/month. Be warned that you may need to talk to several sales associates before you find one that understands what you need to purchase to make the camera work, and don’t let them convince you that you need to purchase a plan that includes minutes. In order for these to work, the camera must be set up somewhere with cell phone coverage. A signal booster may be used in areas with weak signals.

When the camera is directed at a trap, you will start receiving photos via email or text as soon as an animal is caught in the trap. These work well both with humane cage-type traps and larger enclosure traps. These can also help you monitor a trap at night. If you have a smart phone, you can set it up so that the incoming message alert wakes you up and/or you could set you alarm to go off every 2-4 hours to check for any new photos.

Covert Special Ops Code Black

Check out this review from Trailcampro.com. This is the one wireless trail camera that I have used, and it worked quite well.

HCO UWay and Panda Wireless Cameras

Moultrie Game Cameras

Moultrie offers a pay as you go wireless service for several of their cameras. You also need to purchase the Moultrie Spy Game Management System. For more information, visit the Moultrie website.

Here is a review of the Moultrie I35, which is the cheapest model compatible with the Spy Game Management System.

SpyPoint Tiny-W2

This camera does not require a monthly subscription plan. However, it is only able to transmit up to 250 feet, where it stores a copy of the pictures on a separate device (the “black box”). This would work best if you are trapping around your home and could place the black box in your home. If trapping away from home, you could still put one of these cameras at the trap and then check the pictures from a distance without disturbing the trapping site.

Other Wireless and Cellular Cameras

I am continuing to research other cameras, but most of them appear very expensive.

Build Your Own

If you are tech savvy, then you might consider building your own wireless trail camera. Check out these instructions from eHow.com.

Trap Alarms for Trapping Lost Pets Around Your Home

If your lost dog or cat is close to your home (as is often the case with escaped indoor-only cats), you may be able to use one of these cheaper motion alarms. Some people even use a basic audio or video baby monitor set close to the trap. These type of alarms can be quite useful when trapping at night (when most lost indoor-only cats are active) because they are loud enough to wake you up when an animal is caught in the trap.

These are the trap alarms that I use most frequently.

Driveway Alarm

There are various cheap versions of driveway alarms. I used to use Driveway Patrol, but it is no longer manufactured.

This driveway alarm has a short detection range, so it can only be used if you are trapping immediately around your home. The specifications say that it works up to 400 feet, but I have found that some only work to 50 feet. I have found that you do get what you pay for with these alarms, and they may not last for more than a year. You may be able to find something similar to this alarm at a hardware store such as Harbor Freight Tools.

Chamberlain Wireless Motion Alert

This alarm is supposed to work for up to 1/2 mile, so it should have a reliable range of at least half that. In the city I have found that it may only work for a few hundred feet. You can also purchase additional Add-on Sensors to use with one receiver. Here is a video of my dog entering a trap that is armed with a motion alarm.

In this case, I attached the alarm to a piece of wood and angled it downward. This way the alarm should not go off when an animal walks around the outside of the trap. For the video, I placed the alarm receiver next to the video camera, so you could hear when it beeped, but normally the receiver would be in the house with you and the trapped animal wouldn’t hear it. Though a bit more pricey, I find these alarms much more reliable than the Driveway Patrol.

SpyPoint Wireless Motion Detector

SpyPoint also sells some good quality trail cameras including at least one wireless camera.

GPS Trap Alarms

There are also commercially available GPS enabled trap alarms that don’t have the range limitations of these wireless models. However, they are probably prohibitively expensive for most people since they start around $500. These, like GPS locators and wireless cameras, also require a monthly subscription plan. A few models are the:

Trap-Alert System available from Wildlife Control Supplies
TT2 Globalstar Trap Transmitter available from Vectronic Aerospace

Lost Pet Research & Recovery Online Instructions

This information is taken from my Online Lost Pet Recovery Instructions. They also include more detailed instructions on using surveillance (e.g. wildlife cameras) and traps to catch lost dogs and cats. Access to these password protected instructions is currently available for only $20 and can be purchased from the Lost Pet Research Store.

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Online Resources for Selecting and Using a Trail Camera

Danielle Robertson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:56:17 +0000

Lost cat investigates trap, which is elevated to keep out skunks.

Trail cameras (also called wildlife, game, scouting, motion-sensitive, surveillance or remote cameras) can be highly effective tools for helping locate and recover displaced cats (including escaped indoor-only cats) and skittish lost dogs. They can help provide evidence that the lost pet is in the area and whether s/he will enter a humane trap if one is set up. For an example, see Kat Albrecht’s recent blog “Catching Bill.” However, the effectiveness of the camera is dependent on several factors including the quality of the camera and where/how it is set up.

Selecting a trail camera can be a daunting task, especially if you intend to purchase a quantity of cameras to rent out to clients. There are so many brands available, none of them are particularly cheap, and they all seem to have some technical issues. The TrailCamPro.com website provides some very useful information for making this decision. They have a “First Time” Trail Camera Buyer’s Guide that covers many important aspects of selecting a camera including:

Trigger Time
Detection Zone
Recovery Time
Picture Quality
Type of Flash
Battery Life
Security Options

There is even a step-by-step Trail Camera Selection Guide that picks a camera for you based on the criteria you select. The information is interesting, but you are limited to selecting from the cameras that they sell. I was happy to see that the best quality affordable camera that they suggest is the one that I currently use: the Bushnell Trophy Cam. TrailCamPro.com sells them for $200+, but you can buy them for around $150 on Amazon.com. I only say “affordable” because the next step up is their best camera, the Reconyx, which sells for $500+.

If you are really serious about learning all the features and how different brand cameras compare, then you should also check out the TrailCamPro.com Trail Camera Tests including trigger speed, detection zone, recovery time, and flash range tests. Both TrailCamPro.com and Chasing Game also provide in-depth reviews of many different trail cameras. I was unhappy to find that Chasing Game has some rather unflattering reviews of the Bushnell Trophy Cam based on camera performance and customer service issues. TrailCamPro.com also indicated that the Warranty Rate for the 2010 Bushnell Trophy Cam was 3.8%, while the best made cameras have a return rate of less than 1%. However, until I find a better camera for the same cost, I’m probably going to stick with Bushnell.

Whichever camera you select, you can improve your success by setting up the camera effectively because even a great camera won’t get a single picture of a lost pet if set up poorly. TrailCamPro.com provides a useful Trail Camera Checklist. Since their website is aimed primarily at deer hunters, the height that they suggest placing the camera (24”-36”) is too high for cats and small dogs, but most of the information is applicable to setting up a camera to locate missing pets. Chasing Game also has some useful set-up information under the “Getting Started” tab. In addition, they cover the topics of camera camouflage and security, which TrailCamPro.com does not cover on their checklist.

If you want even more in-depth information or are seeking answers to a particular question, there are many forums and discussion groups online. Among the hunting forums, I found the Chasing Game forum particularly user-friendly and informative. Besides hunters, wildlife biologists are the other heavy users of trail cameras, which they generally refer to as “camera traps.” The Yahoo! Camera Trap Group is another good source for information and questions on camera selection and set-up.

I am currently researching wildlife studies that use camera traps. I am particularly interested in those that compare using trail cameras to other methods of detecting animals such as track plates (a method of recording animal tracks), box trapping, and spotlighting to determine which is more effective. I am also hoping to learn more about how to most effectively set-up cameras for cats and dogs by researching wildlife studies on similar size carnivores such as wildcats, foxes, and coyotes.

The Primos Truth Cam 35 and Bushnell Trophy Cam are two of my favorite cameras.

I haven’t had the chance to try these cameras yet, but the Bushnell Aggressor No Glow and the Browning Dark Ops Elite are highly rated by TrailCamPro.com as the lowest priced of the higher quality cameras on the market. The Browning in particular has a feature that adjusts the strength of the flash based on how close the animal is to the camera. A too bright flash that whites out the animal in the photo is a common problem with many wildlife cameras.

If you can afford them, Reconyx supposedly sells the best quality trail cameras on the market. They also have a high resale value on Ebay or Amazon.com, so you could resell yours after you get your lost dog or cat back home.

For more detailed information on selecting and using a wildlife camera to find a missing pet, check out the Lost Pet Recovery Instructions.

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