Set up your trap

Go from unboxing to your first armed trap, with every step in order and links to the detailed guide for each one.

Safety information

Setting up your OcuTrap has two parts: setting up the hardware and connecting it to the app. Follow the steps from top to bottom. Open the linked guides when you need more detail or photos.

Step 1: Charge the battery

Do this first so the battery charges while you set up the trap.

  1. Open the small white box and find the charger.
  2. Charge the blue battery until the charger light turns green. A full charge takes about 5 to 6 hours.

Step 2: Set up the hardware

Follow the guide for your model.

OcuTrap R2. Ships with the door and motor installed. Unbox, cut the shipping zip tie on the motor, mount the POD (the module that holds the camera, sensor, and electronics), insert the battery. About 10 minutes, no tools.

Set up your OcuTrap R2

OcuTrap R1. Needs assembly: the door, the handle, and the POD. The guide covers the build in written steps with photos and follow-along videos.

Hardware set up (OcuTrap R1)

If any part is missing or damaged, stop and contact support@ocutrap.com before continuing.

Step 3: Create your account and add your trap

You manage your OcuTrap from the web portal at app.ocutrap.com or from the mobile app, which has the same features.

  1. Create an account (or log in) at app.ocutrap.com. Verify your email. The app requires this before you can activate a trap.
  2. Open Add trap and follow the wizard: enter your Trap ID and Device ID (both are on labels on/inside the trap), choose a cellular plan, name the trap and set its location, then tap Activate trap.
  3. When activation completes, the app opens the new trap's console page, with a Waiting for first check-in note that clears once the trap connects. To finish billing, select Billing in the sidebar, find the trap under Per-trap status, and select Manage. The plan you picked in the wizard is already selected.

Full walkthrough with screenshots: Adding a trap to your account.

Using a phone? Install the mobile app and turn on push notifications so capture alerts reach you immediately. See Using the mobile app.

Step 4: Power on and confirm it's connected

  1. Insert the charged battery and power on the trap.
  2. Watch the status LED. Breathing cyan means the trap is connected to the cloud and ready. Other colors: LED guide.
  3. Confirm the trap shows as online in the app.

If it won't connect, give it a minute, then see Connectivity and cellular coverage.

Step 5: Place, set your capture distance, and test

Where you put the trap and how you set the capture distance matter most. The camera and sensor are fixed inside the POD, so there's nothing to aim.

The essentials:

  • Put bait behind the sensor, near the back of the cage.
  • Set the trap on level, stable ground.
  • Pick a capture distance in the app (presets from 6 in to 18 in; default 8 in).
  • Test before you walk away: arm the trap, wave your hand slowly through the detection zone, and confirm the door closes and you get a capture alert.

The full field guide covers placement, capture-distance tuning, the pre-departure checklist, and validation with Scouting mode:

Deploying your trap in the field

Step 6: Arm it and turn on notifications

  1. Manually open the door. For safety, arming requires the door to already be open.
  2. Tap Arm in the app. See Trap control for what each state means.
  3. Choose how you want to be alerted (push, email, or both) in Notification settings.

While armed, the trap checks in on a low-power cycle and can briefly show offline between check-ins. That's normal. You'll be alerted if it stays disconnected for more than an hour.

You're set: what happens next

Something not working? Check Common issues or Trap offline or won't connect.