5 ms·

Technology Man trains home cameras to help repel badgers and foxes

14 points by monkeydust 3y ago

ggm 3y ago
Amazing tech but I don't like the application. Had foxes and squirrels and hedgehogs in the garden growing up, loved them. I guess as long as it doesn't harm then it's the least asocial option. (Where I live now all three would be feral introduced species, but I am sure some of my friends would train this to recognise possums for the same purpose. I like them too but boy, are they noisy and destructive of the veggie patch)
- hcfman 3y ago
  To honest, I'd also be thrilled to have badgers and foxes in my garden, I have to drive for miles to see them. Wolves, maybe less so, but only on account of my chickens and small dogs.
tmnvix 3y ago
A friend was just telling me about his plans to do something similar - though not as a deterrent. He wants to survey bees visiting flowers in his garden. I think I'll pass on a link to Technology Man's repo (I love the simple appellation).
monkeydust 3y ago
We have fox problem (UK resident) so this was an interesting approach however the ultrasonic deterrents seem close to useless for the group of them in our neighborhood - caught one on camera urinating on top of it, could swear it was grinning into the camera.
- doublerabbit 3y ago
  But the foxes are not the problem. The people are. When folk leave their litter out, throw it on the street after a drunken night out. You can't blame the foxes for that.
rabbits_2002 3y ago
Why do British people hate animals?
- doublerabbit 3y ago
  Because we are a passive-aggressive nation who would rather let it happen, bitch about it over a few pints and let it happen again. Rinse and repeat. Other than, you know, actually do anything about it. Anyone for a pint?
- danw1979 3y ago
  We don’t really, just some specific animals which we have historically dunked on, so I guess it’s just tradition now.
- randomcarbloke 3y ago
  we don't, generally we love animals but foxes are a blight for many people, they will kill and eat garden-based pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and tortoises, and wildlife like hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, etc. Their defecate is rather repellant, and they happily do it all over your property. Lastly, they will figure out how to open your food waste and general waste and have a pinata party with it. I actually like them and have assisted in relocating and treating them on behalf of charities. Why the guy dislikes badgers I have no idea, they're breathtaking animals.
danw1979 3y ago
See also, the (British) guy who made a computer-vision cat flap which didn’t let his cat in the house if it was carrying anything in it’s mouth…
throw1234651234 3y ago
It has begun. "Technology Man", not so far off from "Medicine Man".
mortallywounded 3y ago
.. not a single honey badger meme?
- rabbits_2002 3y ago
  honey badgers are a different animal that lives in Africa and India.
karmakaze 3y ago
Related: Deterring foxes / badgers with TensorFlow, Raspberry Pi, cameras and ultrasound [0] https://medium.com/@james.milward/deterring-foxes-and-badgers-with-tensorflow-lite-python-raspberry-pi-ring-cameras-ultrasonic-75b3160faa3c https://medium.com/@james.milward/deterring-foxes-and-badger... [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37828884 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37828884

14 points by monkeydust 3y ago

ggm 3y ago

Amazing tech but I don't like the application. Had foxes and squirrels and hedgehogs in the garden growing up, loved them. I guess as long as it doesn't harm then it's the least asocial option. (Where I live now all three would be feral introduced species, but I am sure some of my friends would train this to recognise possums for the same purpose. I like them too but boy, are they noisy and destructive of the veggie patch)

hcfman 3y ago
To honest, I'd also be thrilled to have badgers and foxes in my garden, I have to drive for miles to see them. Wolves, maybe less so, but only on account of my chickens and small dogs.

tmnvix 3y ago

A friend was just telling me about his plans to do something similar - though not as a deterrent. He wants to survey bees visiting flowers in his garden. I think I'll pass on a link to Technology Man's repo (I love the simple appellation).

monkeydust 3y ago

We have fox problem (UK resident) so this was an interesting approach however the ultrasonic deterrents seem close to useless for the group of them in our neighborhood - caught one on camera urinating on top of it, could swear it was grinning into the camera.

doublerabbit 3y ago
But the foxes are not the problem. The people are. When folk leave their litter out, throw it on the street after a drunken night out. You can't blame the foxes for that.

rabbits_2002 3y ago

Why do British people hate animals?

doublerabbit 3y ago
Because we are a passive-aggressive nation who would rather let it happen, bitch about it over a few pints and let it happen again. Rinse and repeat. Other than, you know, actually do anything about it. Anyone for a pint?
danw1979 3y ago
We don’t really, just some specific animals which we have historically dunked on, so I guess it’s just tradition now.
randomcarbloke 3y ago
we don't, generally we love animals but foxes are a blight for many people, they will kill and eat garden-based pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and tortoises, and wildlife like hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, etc. Their defecate is rather repellant, and they happily do it all over your property. Lastly, they will figure out how to open your food waste and general waste and have a pinata party with it. I actually like them and have assisted in relocating and treating them on behalf of charities. Why the guy dislikes badgers I have no idea, they're breathtaking animals.

danw1979 3y ago

See also, the (British) guy who made a computer-vision cat flap which didn’t let his cat in the house if it was carrying anything in it’s mouth…

throw1234651234 3y ago

It has begun. "Technology Man", not so far off from "Medicine Man".

mortallywounded 3y ago

.. not a single honey badger meme?

rabbits_2002 3y ago
honey badgers are a different animal that lives in Africa and India.

karmakaze 3y ago

Related: Deterring foxes / badgers with TensorFlow, Raspberry Pi, cameras and ultrasound [0] https://medium.com/@james.milward/deterring-foxes-and-badgers-with-tensorflow-lite-python-raspberry-pi-ring-cameras-ultrasonic-75b3160faa3c https://medium.com/@james.milward/deterring-foxes-and-badger... [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37828884 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37828884