# Thermal imaging cameras for detecting pests **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680 "2021-09-30T19:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/1 "2021-09-30T19:58:59Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/2 "2021-09-30T20:05:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/3 "2021-09-30T20:09:34Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/4 "2021-09-30T20:12:05Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/5 "2021-09-30T20:34:28Z")
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? > **[Wyze Cam V3](https://uk.pcmag.com/home-security-cameras/131848/wyze-cam-v3)** > > The best sub-$40 home security camera inside or out ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/6 "2021-09-30T20:42:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/7 "2021-09-30T21:04:20Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/8 "2021-10-01T01:02:27Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > 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. I don’t think you’re going far enough with this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HQDy-5IQvuU/hqdefault.jpg ""Aliens" Sentry Guns Scenes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQDy-5IQvuU) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/9 "2021-10-01T01:16:20Z")
```auto I see you. Are you still there? There you are. ``` ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/10 "2021-10-01T03:38:14Z")
Was the pest control guy really unaware that rats are nocturnal? They won’t be moving around in the daytime. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermal-imaging-cameras-for-detecting-pests/951680/11 "2021-10-01T10:07:32Z")
Not all rats are nocturnal. Ours are active at midday, afternoon, evening, and night. Early morning is the only time they _aren’t_ active.