Thermal imaging cameras for detecting pests

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a rat problem in my house. I’m thinking to get a thermal camera to help identify their travel paths in the wall, since all other avenues have been exhausted. Does anyone have any advice or experience with specific models?

I don’t want to spend a ton of money but I’m about at my wits end. The rats are entering a ceiling void that seems like it shouldn’t be accessible at all, and we’ll have to start tearing up walls if we can’t figure something out. The pest contractor brought out a thermal camera one day but the rats weren’t active at that time. I’d like to have a camera in hand so I can image the walls when I hear them and maybe figure out how they’re reaching that space.

Thanks in advance!

2

I have a FLIR 1 for my iPhone, and it works really well, but I doubt you are going to be able to detect rats moving in walls with it. It would probably show a nest with sleeping animals in a wall.

I have taken images of a beehive inside a block wall, but beehives are static, and generate a lot of heat.

3

The pest guys said that the camera can detect where the rats recent movement has been, because they transfer enough body heat to the wall to light it up for a little while. I have no idea how true that is.

4

However, if you take try it on a day when the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperature is fairly large, you might be able to identify an opening. Either heat/AC pouring out of the house or cold/hot air getting in somewhere. It would at least be a place to start.

5

FLIR cameras look so much fun, but they are a tad expensive.

Now in the home automation space, there are Wyze cameras that do night vision, sound activation and have many other features.

The are also very cheap.

Would this work as a rat-cam?

6

They are surprisingly sensitive.
I did a demo once, where I had someone hold a domino, and then put it into a pile of other dominos and mix them up. I was easily able to see which one was theirs. Even 30 minutes later, the camera could still discern the difference in temperature.

7

Well, we’re gonna find out, because I just ordered a FLIR C5 for $560. There’s a 30-day return policy, so I’m thinking that’s enough time to image what I need and then return it.

8

I don’t think you’re going far enough with this:

Stranger

9 
I see you.
Are you still there?
There you are.
10

Was the pest control guy really unaware that rats are nocturnal? They won’t be moving around in the daytime.

11

Not all rats are nocturnal. Ours are active at midday, afternoon, evening, and night. Early morning is the only time they aren’t active.