Any recommendations for a game camera.....for inside my garage?

[Baz]

I have a 2 car garage and keep the cats' food and water bowls inside - as they are outside cats. I keep the foods put away in a mini-fridge so no problem there. But something is coming in and pilfering their bowls. Over the years I have trapped and relocated many a raccoon and possum with a hav-a-heart trap, but now I think something is living inside the garage itself, so I'm looking for some intel so I can figure out a strategy to remedy the situation.

Ideally something that is motion activated and is capable of capturing both pics and short video clips. Maybe with a memory card that I can upload into my PC the next morning.

I know there are a ton of options but wanted to get some input from the brain trust. I don't use a smart phone, BTW so probably not interested in any app stuff per se.

Thanks in advance!

[Paul_Heery]

I have one of these that I put in the room where the cat's litter boxes are located. We had an issue with one of the 3 occasionally "missing" the box, but we didn't know which one had the problem. It has motion detection and night vision. It records to a memory card on the camera, but I also set it up to transfer the files to a SFTP server in my office. Works really well. We discovered that Marco was having the problem and took him to the vet and discovered he had a medical issue.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G8HSGO/

[wdfifteen]

I have a "bestguarder" camera that works. It came from Amazon, about $170 I think. It's the only one I've ever had, so I can't offer any comparative advice. A nice feature for your application is that it can be powered by AC line voltage, you just need a 12 volt power supply. It take still images and video. The length of the video is adjustable. I have mine set on 45 seconds but I think it will record for much longer. You can set the "off" time for as little as 5 seconds, so I've got some 90 second vids with 5 second gaps in the middle. Night video is illuminated by infrared so the subject doesn't know it's there. I have a video shot at 4 AM of a deer scratching his head against the post that the camera is on. It can take a wifi SD card, so you don't even have to take the card out to download the video.
I've had issues with it, but finally worked them out. Read more about it here.

SD memory card question

[vash]

all mine are Stealthcams.

but since you are looking for a inside garage one, you can buy anything. i had to get the Stealthcams because they are one that has an optional security box i can house it in, to make it a PIA to steal. the prices are really coming down.

get one with IR lighting so it can see in the dark and not spook the "thing"

[Baz]

Thanks everyone for your input...good stuff!

I just bought this one because it had great reviews, looked like it had what I was looking for, and it can be used both indoor and outdoors. At some point I may install a couple more just for security purposes.

SPYPOINT FORCE-10 - Ultra compact trail camera

I actually bought through Walmart for approx. $90. incl shipping.

The ultra-compact SPYPOINT FORCE-10 trail camera captures 10 megapixel photos or HD video in color by day & black-and-white by night. The camera uses 42 high-power low-glow LEDs to offer the best night time images. It is the perfect camera to avoid disturbing or spooking your game. The curved motion sensor lens improves the detection angle and distance of its 5 detection zones. The detection range can also be adjusted from 5' to 80'. The camera has an incredible battery life when powered by 6 AA batteries and even longer when using the rechargeable lithium battery pack (sold separately).

[cabmandone]

Darn it! I would have given you one that I absolutely hate for in the woods but it would work for what you wanted to do. See! Nothing good comes from me working.

[HardDrive]

If you want something that can do double duty as a home security camera, consider a dropcam. If you want it to record to the web it cost $10 a month. If not, it will alert you when something is in there and you can pop your phone open and see what it is in real time.

https://nest.com/camera/meet-nest-cam/

[SpyderMike]

Www.homeboy.com

I am currently checking one out and it is promising.

[Baz]

Update...........

Got the trail camera in yesterday's mail so set it up last night.

Within' 1 minute of putting some food out - my visitor arrived......just as I suspected....a possum!

It looks like he's living inside the garage as he seems to come and go from beneath my 356. I'll set up my have-a-heart trap tonight and re-locate him to somewhere far far away from civilization.

I'm really impressed with the results of using this camera to capture images of an intruder. I think I'll get another one and set it up outside somewhere to monitor wildlife in general around my property.

In the photos...(in my Marlin Perkins voice) - note how he continues to return to the "feeding area" at several intervals hours apart.

[cabmandone]

I caught an entire family of raccoon enjoying the food my wife left out of our cats in the old barn. I have to put a camera out soon. The other day an entire bowl with food came up missing. Something had to pick it up and carry it off as it wasn't windy enough to blow it away. I'm hopeful I'll catch the first confirmed pictures of bigfoot.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I caught an entire family of raccoon enjoying the food my wife left out of our cats in the old barn. I have to put a camera out soon. The other day an entire bowl with food came up missing. Something had to pick it up and carry it off as it wasn't windy enough to blow it away. I'm hopeful I'll catch the first confirmed pictures of bigfoot.

You should get one of these, Cab....they really let you know what's happening in a very covert fashion!

[BK911]

What if its a nursing female with a litter of pups stashed somewhere in your garage?
You may want to find its den just in case!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by BK911

What if its a nursing female with a litter of pups stashed somewhere in your garage?
You may want to find its den just in case!

If it's a nursing female, I should be able to tell when I get him/her trapped.

He/she looks like a youngster though - and very healthy too!

[Tim L]

Opossums are marsupials I would think she would carry her young

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Baz

He/she looks like a youngster though - and very healthy too!

[Jeff Higgins]