Trail cameras, once used mostly by hunters and wildlife researchers, are moving into the suburban backyard.
The cameras, which can be attached to trees or poles and set to record images of creatures that pass by, are being purchased both by nature lovers who want a glimpse of the wildlife living around them and by people interested in a little extra security.
“Most hunters already have them these days,” said Danny Thompson, retail events coordinator for the Cabela’s store in Medford, Minn. “The fun of seeing that a big deer passed by your trail cam in the night is exciting, it keeps you going, even if you never see that deer again.”
That same thrill is being experienced by rural and suburban homeowners like Will Weaver, a writer and teacher who lives near Bemidji, Minn. He recently posted to Facebook a shot of a couple of otters in his back yard that he’d never seen before, and a nighttime shot of a fox staring right at the camera. But some farmers are buying the trail cams to thwart gas thieves, finding the $300 or more they’ll pay for a higher-end camera worth the peace of mind.