# Scouting Mode

Scouting Mode lets you watch what visits your trap without catching it. The trap detects animals and sends photos, but the door stays open.

Use Scouting Mode when you want to:

* Confirm which animals are visiting before you arm the trap.
* Check activity around a new trap location.
* Watch behavior without closing the door.

## Before you start

Scouting can only start when the trap is **Open / Unarmed**. If the door is closed, tap **Open** first and wait for the trap status to update.

The trap also checks for an obstruction before scouting begins. If something is already in the capture area, clear it and try again.

## Scouting vs. Armed

|                 | Armed                  | Scouting           |
| --------------- | ---------------------- | ------------------ |
| Detects animals | Yes                    | Yes                |
| Sends alerts    | Yes, if enabled        | Yes, if enabled    |
| Takes photos    | Yes                    | Yes                |
| Closes the door | Yes, after a detection | No                 |
| Best for        | Capturing an animal    | Observing activity |

While in Scouting Mode, the door does not close automatically. The only controls that move the door are **Open** and **Close**. Switching from Scouting to **Arm** does not move the door immediately, but it does allow the trap to close on a future detection.

## Start Scouting

1. Sign in at [app.ocutrap.com](https://app.ocutrap.com) or open the mobile app.
2. Find the trap you want to scout.
3. Make sure the trap status is **Open / Unarmed**.
4. Tap **Controls** on the trap card.
5. Tap **Scout** (eye icon).
6. When the check passes, the trap status changes to **Scouting**.

If **Scout** does not start, the door may not be fully open, the trap may be offline, or the trap may not have checked in recently. Wait for the next check-in, then try again.

## What to expect

* **Scout Alert**: Sent when an animal first enters the pre-capture area, if this alert is enabled.
* **Scout Trigger**: Sent if the animal reaches the normal trigger distance. The trap takes a photo, but the door does not close.
* **Photos**: Sent about every 5 seconds for the first minute, then about every 15 seconds while the animal remains in the detection area.

Each alert type can be sent once every 5 minutes. During that 5-minute window, you may still receive new photos, but you should not receive another alert of the same type.

## Stop Scouting

You can stop Scouting Mode in either of these ways:

* Tap **Stop Scout** in the Controls popup. The trap returns to Unarmed and the door stays open.
* Tap **Close** on the trap card. The door closes and the trap returns to Unarmed.

## Use Armed mode instead when

* You are ready to capture a confirmed animal.
* You want the door to close after a detection.

For capture behavior after the door closes, see [After a Capture](/getting-started/app/after-capture.md).

## Troubleshooting

* **Obstruction error**: Clear the capture area, then tap **Scout** again.
* **Door-not-open error**: Tap **Open**, wait for the trap status to show **Open**, then tap **Scout** again.
* **Too many alerts**: Each alert type should only send once every 5 minutes. If you receive the same alert type more often than that, please report it.


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