By Joshua Adams, Red Squirrel Ranger, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

When it comes to protecting red squirrels, knowing exactly who’s visiting your feeders and when can make all the difference between thriving populations and unintended harm. Over the years, our monitoring toolkit in Cumbria has evolved from simple chew-test feeders to high-tech live cameras flowing data straight to our phones. This post shares how we got here, why it matters and what it means for every minute we spend in the woods.

From Mesh Feeders to Trail Cameras

  1. Chew-Test Mesh Feeders
    In the early days, we relied on a cylindrical mesh feeder wrapped at the base with bale twine. Return after a week and a chewed cord meant a squirrel had been feeding.
    • Pros: Ultra–low cost, easy to install.
    • Cons: No record of species, risk of disease spread, zero behavioural insight.
  2. Standard Trail Cameras
    We then upgraded to passive infrared cameras aimed at foot-top feeders. This gave us photos of reds and greys, plus clues to health or abnormal behaviour.
    • Pros: Photo evidence, no live-trap stress.
    • Cons: Hundreds of “false positives” (branches, birds), small preview screens, and endless SD card downloads, often in an office.

 

Enter 4G Live Cameras

The game-changer has been the HIKMICRO M15 (and similar Spypoint units) operating on a roaming LTE 4G network. Real-time alerts to a handheld device mean:

  • Immediate trap checks the moment a squirrel is captured.
  • Zero risk of red squirrels or non-target wildlife languishing overnight.
  • A dramatic boost in field efficiency – rangers only visit when action is required.
  • GPS-tracked cameras so equipment never wanders off.

Legally, grey-only areas allow a single 24-hour trap check. But when red squirrels are in the mix, traps must be checked twice daily. Live cameras satisfy this requirement perfectly, keeping mothers and kittens safe during the breeding seasons, which often coincide with UK trapping season.

 

Case Study: June 2025 Landowner Project

On a 40-acre site deemed a red squirrel stronghold,  a creeping grey squirrel problem developed and our initial five-day shoot yielded 26 greys. Next, we set two live-camera-monitored traps. Within a month, they recorded:

  • 47 grey squirrel captures – virtually hands-free.
  • Days when no visit was needed, saving 100’s miles of unnecessary travel.
  • A single seven-hour window with eight captures using two traps, compared to just two in a one-check-a-day scenario proved just how efficient these cameras may be for wider scale work.

This meant fewer public concerns, better animal welfare and more time for us to work on improving habitat for red squirrels and other wildlife.

 

Pros and Cons of 4G Live Cameras

Pros

  • True live viewing of trap / feeder activity
  • Far more efficient use of ranger time
  • Reduced risk to non-target species (hedgehogs, pine martens, woodpeckers and red squirrels)
  • GPS tracking of each camera
  • Dual-mode use: live stream or standard trail camera
  • Safer lone working, fewer unnecessary site visits
  • Lower mileage for rangers / contractors
  • Useful for monitoring grey incursion / red dispersal routes such as wall tops and other linear features
  • Operated from an app from the palm of your hand / tablet
  • Easy SD card / storage management
  • High quality 4k media
  • Cameras can share across 20 phones, keeping all volunteers and rangers in the loop
  • Can be paired with solar panels

Cons

  • Upfront cost: £120 per unit, £10 batteries, £80 annual data plan per unit
  • Spotty coverage in very remote areas
  • Reduced battery life in cold weather
  • Can be prone to issues when updating for short spells

 

Looking Forward

4G live cameras have become an indispensable tool for red squirrel protection. They not only streamline legal trap checks but also sharpen our understanding of woodland dynamics. As network coverage expands and battery technology improves, real-time monitoring will only get better – putting conservation firmly in the palm of our hands.

Want to see one of these setups in action or discuss deployment on your patch? Contact me via email. We can bring red squirrels back, one live alert at a time.