Anybody using FLIR cameras for critter work? If so, what model and how well does it work? The I5 from WCS at $1595 almost starts to be affordable.

Barehunter, we have a FLIR T320, they don't market it anymore, but think it is still sold. We use it for thermal studies on bats and we have used it for inspections and you can find gaps and things you wouldn't see otherwise.

However......

Before you spend your cash, realize FLIR is great but in attic temps mid day or in a field for example in a hot part of the year, critters will look like rocks or drywall, or metal. The folks at FLIR have asked us for pics and video a few times and frankly I can't provide them anything that most guys would relate to.

Can you see heat through the wall, yes you can if the conditions are right, but that really depends on the time of day, the heat of the animal you are after, some folks use them for finding bee swarms in walls (maybe not the right term, David can correct me on that).

When we first tested one, we put a small 2 gallon bucket of warm water up in our garage attic, on the insulation and within 15 minutes could see the circle from the bottom of the bucket, neat little gizmo.

However at $1,595, I might see the need or use, but remember it depends on your environment and in GA you might have more season where it wouldn't help than the winter months when it might shine when diff. in ambient heat and critter are more clear.

I hope that helps, I like electronics so don't want to defeat your interest, but need to know you may find more or less use for it than I do. I use it only on studies now and it is right at home doing what we do, but know folks who have bought them and regret the purchase.

Not sure if the I5 connects to the ipad through bluetooth, but if so, this can shine for folks wanting to show the client some views inside their attic while the tech crawls around, etc...

No one can say not to buy it, but keep these things in mind and hope they help.

Justin

Thanks Justin. I figured the use would be more limited in warm environments. Not ready to spend that much at this time but IF it worked it could probably pay for itself in a year.

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me they work. I own one and it won't be me.

I just got and I5 so far I am liking it. I forgot how to post pics on here but if someone is willing to post them I have a few of a bat behind a shutter that are pretty cool.

Where I would want to use it is on a "I trapped a bat in the bedroom call"

For those that have used them, can it pick up on the heat signature of the bat in the room?
Also, can you stand in the middle of the lets say 10x10 room and just spin circles to find it?
or would you have to be holding the unit 3 inches from it before it shows up?

You can stand back and see it, I can see nail heads in wood 30 feet above my head, though my unit was about 3 times the price of the one being discussed. Main difference is usually resolution and heat spectrum (not the type wildlife folks would worry about but heat spectrum related to seeing if a fuse is about to blow or a piece of machinery is overloaded in a factory where they use these).

You will and can see a bat, but if it is in mid day and is in torpor you may not detect it. I've got pics I'll try to post later of some of these FLIR vids, you can see some in our flickr library - go to www.flickr.com/RD_Wildlife_Management it has some of larger colonies in our survey work.

We've used it to pic and video single bats, you wouldn't likely see the bat if behind a curtain, or in some clothes on the floor, etc.... just not enough heat being thrown.

When I inspect a home for potential entry points you can use this the way a home insulation inspector would and check for air leaks and gaps in materials that might show you a spot that isn't very visible or requires extra time after identified to get a closer look. Sometimes these are tiny gaps and too small for worry, other times they are larger, but wood and siding preclude a good visual.

Hope that helps.

Justin