Sunday afternoon television often features wildlife programs from far flung corners of the world. Lions, tigers and bears are amongst the common subjects we can observe in their natural habitat from the comfort of our own sofas. We can do this because a wildlife camera filmed them secretly, probably the last gadget we would expect to find in our own back garden. But, in fact, a growing number of people are setting up this type of camera in their gardens, though for various reasons.

There is a key difference between a camera made for wildlife filming and a stereotypical spy cam. Often, they come in camouflage colouring to provide the maximum cover in the undergrowth. In comparison, an in car camera, for example, is small and discreet and is usually black or hidden in a dashboard toy.

Such a disguise is unlikely to be affective outdoors, though in truth animals are unlikely to care. But the reasons for using a camera designed to secretly film wildlife are numerous, with nature not necessarily the key one. These cameras are highly effective as outdoor security options, enhancing the scope of coverage by placing them on the ground and away from buildings that are otherwise required to support more orthodox outdoor security cameras.

A camera so well hidden may be necessary if trespassers are suspected of causing damage to property. Farmers, for example, are known to utilise them in an effort to discover who is damaging their crops when walking through fields. They may also need confirmation that a fox is on the prowl or badgers are rummaging around, both of which can cause disruption amongst livestock.

Some local authorities, meanwhile, also make use of wildlife DVRs in order to catch fly tippers, or illegal dumpers. The cameras record the registration plates on cars that pull up into lay-bys and throw rubbish out, providing enough evidence for the car owners to be prosecuted. It is also used to record vandals who destroy local authority buildings and public amenities.

However, the purposes for using these cameras away from the wild relate to more than just criminal activities. They cameras are also finding popularity amongst amateur wildlife enthusiasts who want to capture local animals in their natural habitat. Since the camera is not particularly expensive to purchase, and its life span is long, it is worth the investment. So, rarely seen animals like urban foxes and badgers can be filmed rummaging through bins.

The choice of wildlife is down to the observer, but with students benefiting ahead of school or university projects, as well as the ability to satisfy general curiosity, these weatherproofed cameras can be an enjoyable tool.

Of course, in all cases the desire to get quality footage is at a premium, but because of weather conditions and night shooting, there are special features a camera such as this has. Because of the effects of rain, cold and heat, these cameras are sealed in thick plastic cases, keeping out damaging elements.

Picture quality is assured by the fact that the lenses are generally HD infrared and designed to operate in low light situations. Their infrared LEDs serve to illuminate a given area without detection, which means that any animals or trespassers will not notice the presence of the camera. It also means that they can pick up images on even the darkest nights.

In terms of power, the camera can operate on rechargeable batteries, with some models requiring as many as 8 AA sized batteries in total. This may seem excessive, but with a low standby power requirement this pack can actually last as long as 3 months. This is important, as frequent visits can serve to reveal the camera in question. Meanwhile, a motion detector triggers shooting ensuring that there is the minimum amount of waste of storage space on the SD card inside.

The technology in a wildlife camera is high grade, something for which we can, in part at least, thank pioneering wildlife film makers working in those tropical parts of the world for developing.

The reasons for using such a camera may vary dramatically but, in essence, the process is the same as with any in car camera. With so much going on in the darkness of night, whether criminal or natural, a spy cam of some description is needed to reveal what secrets there might be.