Pre-Capture Notification
Get notified (only in ARMED mode) when an animal is about to enter the trap—before a capture happens.
What It Does
When enabled and the trap is in Armed Mode, Pre-Capture Notification alerts you when an animal is detected approaching the trigger point. This early warning system sends a notification and a photo (if applicable), helping you stay ahead of trap activity.
How It Works
OcuTrap uses a distance sensor to detect animals before they reach the capture point. It watches two areas:
- Detection area (out to about 34 in / 875 mm from the sensor): The trap tracks an approaching animal and may send a pre-capture alert with a photo.
- Capture point (your capture-distance setting; default 8 in / 200 mm): The door closes once the animal is confirmed at or inside this distance.
Default capture distance is 8 inches (200 mm), adjustable from 6–18 inches in the app. Pre-capture alerts can fire while an animal is still approaching in the detection area, before the door closes.
Example
With the default 8 in (200 mm) capture distance:
- As the animal approaches within the detection area (out to ~34 in), you may receive a Pre-Capture Alert with an approach photo.
- At ~8 in (200 mm) or closer, the trap confirms capture and the door closes.
In the app, the notification shows as a Pre-Capture Alert — it lets you know an animal is approaching before a capture happens, and includes an approach photo when available. In Scouting Mode the same approach event shows as a Scout Alert instead. The distance the animal was detected at is recorded on the event details.
Units (inches or millimeters) depend on your trap's Units setting. For the full sensor model, see Technical Specifications.
How to Enable or Disable
This setting is configured per trap:
- Open the OcuTrap app or app.ocutrap.com
- Tap on the trap you want to edit
- Go to Settings → More Settings
- Find the Pre-Capture Notification option
- Toggle to On or Off
Default setting: On
Why Use This Feature?
- See what’s approaching your trap before it’s too late
- Detect non-target animals early (like pets or skunks)
- Monitor animal behavior without needing a capture — or use Scouting Mode to watch activity without closing the door
- Improve trap placement and setup based on activity patterns
What you'll see (alert motion gate, firmware v906+)
| Signal | When it fires |
|---|---|
| Pre-Capture Alert | After the animal shows real inward movement (~3 in / 75 mm) toward the trap — static grass or debris in the detection zone will not trigger the alert |
| Approach photos | On zone entry and during approach — not blocked by the motion gate that holds the alert |
| Door close | Only when the animal is confirmed in the capture zone (Armed mode) |
Testing tip:
Trap Test/ demo mode is not the same as Armed mode. To verify pre-capture behavior, arm the trap normally with the door open and approach slowly. Scout mode uses the same motion gate for its alert; approach photos are not held by that gate.
Need to Turn It Off?
If you prefer to only be notified after a capture, you can disable Pre-Capture Notification in settings at any time. It will not affect the actual capture or release functions.