Nyssa

We’ve been trying to get a good system for watching our deer feeder on camera. It’s really fun to see what kind of animals show up and enjoy the all-you-can-eat corn buffet.

Currently we’re using a SkyIPCam500W camera with a power inverter and a car battery. It’s been awhile since this thing has been in action, because of weather and other factors.

This photo actually shows an older set up where we had an IR illuminator on a tripod, and a home-built power regulator (thanks Paul). This gives you a general idea of what it should look like…

Anyway, last night, we put the unit into the field and were delighted by the awesome images of deer that were being transmitted. We were excited about a future where we could move the camera around and catch images of visitors to the feeder, the pond, etc. And we might even be able to catch a poacher that has been menacing the area.

This morning, we looked at the streaming video and it was no longer streaming… this was the last image transmitted…

You may not know what this is, but it bears a striking resemblance to our neighbor’s horse…Cowboy. If you look closely you can see this is the side of the horse, as it runs into the camera!

This is what Cowboy looks like in the cold light of day. Who knew he was such a trouble maker? We always thought Pepe was the bad influence! Cowboy always seemed to be such a… sweet and mature horse, but I’m beginning to think that Cowboy may have the spirit of a rebel and that all the things we’ve been blaming on Pepe, were actually Cowboy’s fault… He’s the only horse that can get across the cattle guard on a nightly basis, so most horse-related mischief can and should be blamed on him…

So, with dread in our hearts, we got down to the deer feeder and THIS is what awaited:

Sigh.

The tripod may be a lost cause. It is no longer a tripod – more of a bi-pod with a bent leg. The battery leaked acid into the bucket. Now, we have to take it to the local hazardous waste disposal place. The camera and the inverter still work, but how do we make it horse proof?

This reminds me of the “Great Horse Deer Corn War of 2008.” Long story! My dad tried storing deer corn in a metal trash can by the deer feeder. Every night, for several months, the horses had their way with the deliciously tempting, fragrant deer corn… the metal trash can was, eventually, smashed into oblivion. James and I could hear the horses kicking the garbage can around, late at night.

Anyway, the point is: Cowboy has learned that delicious things are found in enclosed containers…now, anything we put out there will probably be stomped.

The first generation deer camera was destroyed by an unknown animal that pulled everything out of the bucket and pulled the wires of our inverter completely apart. The only evidence was some fur, stuck to the electrical tape… The wildlife in this area just DO NOT want to be photographed!