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There are numerous "squirrel cams" on the internet. The following is my rendition.
I had access to all the things I needed - squirrels, tools, wood, web server, ... I looked around the web for design ideas, then set up the following.
And, it only took me two years to get around to publishing this entry. Hope you like it.
I had access to all the things I needed - squirrels, tools, wood, web server, ... I looked around the web for design ideas, then set up the following.
And, it only took me two years to get around to publishing this entry. Hope you like it.
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I settled on this design as it had the features that squirrels told me they liked ( I conducted a short focus group), and it provided a place for the web camera. The web camera was purchased on ebay for about $15. It is a small SOC USB web cam surrounded by six infrared LEDs. Camera and LEDs use USB for both power and communication.
I went with USB as it was cheap, simple, and quick. The biggest limitation is range. USB-2 has a range of 5 meters. I consider this build a "proof of concept". See future improvements section for alternate camera ideas. You can overcome the 5 meter USB limit with active USB cables or addition of a hub. ( or go with a non usb camera - a wifi enabled camera would be ideal )
Actual house dimensions are pretty flexible as well. My target for the house area was roughly 1'x1' and 18" tall. I used 11.5" pine shelving, and only cut pieces to length.
Tools used - I used all my power and air tools - table saw, nail gun, etc - but this build could easily be done with a hand saw, glue, screws, a drill, and a screwdriver.
Materials - wood $20, lexan $5, camera $15, software $30, screws and stuff were whatever I had around.
see additional information is in image notes in yellow boxes on the pictures.
I went with USB as it was cheap, simple, and quick. The biggest limitation is range. USB-2 has a range of 5 meters. I consider this build a "proof of concept". See future improvements section for alternate camera ideas. You can overcome the 5 meter USB limit with active USB cables or addition of a hub. ( or go with a non usb camera - a wifi enabled camera would be ideal )
Actual house dimensions are pretty flexible as well. My target for the house area was roughly 1'x1' and 18" tall. I used 11.5" pine shelving, and only cut pieces to length.
Tools used - I used all my power and air tools - table saw, nail gun, etc - but this build could easily be done with a hand saw, glue, screws, a drill, and a screwdriver.
Materials - wood $20, lexan $5, camera $15, software $30, screws and stuff were whatever I had around.
see additional information is in image notes in yellow boxes on the pictures.
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Another cool one would be to do a bat house. Apparently they are very similar to your squirrel nest box; close to the wall, under the roof etc.
we have two recurring natural nests around my house as well, and they are not similar. One is about 15' high in a hedge, the other about 75' high in a large alder. Hence, i think they are pretty flexible on what they will use.
tyler51773, just wondering if you have any links or information, on how to convert a usb camera, into a network camera, with dd-wrt and a router ?
Feed 'em every time before winter. We've got those endangered red ones at our place, try to get them through every year. I should think about making a box like that!
They can cause a lot of damage if they decide they want to climb into your chimney or chew their way through a roof vent.
But on a positive note this is a neat idea and I would just mount it to a tree or something.
Autumn came around and we fired up the furnace. Wow, what a stench !!
The entire chimney liner had to be removed and replaced because squirrel urine had damaged it... and caused the smell.
A new (and stronger) chimney screen cap was also installed and the squirrel problem was solved !!
Despite all this I still find them to be cute little rodents and fed them every winter.
Squirrels who become to familiar with humans will eventually try to make their way into your house. Not only can they chew large holes in your roof and walls, but they carry diseases--especially in their urine and fecal matter. The copious amounts of squirrel "wastes" can make you and your family very ill and will also wreak havoch on your home (think of a leaky pipe and what it can do to a ceiling, but with urine.) Ick.
dorgem is a free program that does motion detection,alerts and can stream live video.
please dont take this as a criticism,as i really like your idea.
I'm all ready for some voyeur squirrel action....
you can also make a usb camera into a network camera via projects like dd-wrt and a compatible router.
Plus, this looks like a really well designed system!
L