REMOTE MONITORING OF LIVE CATCH RODENT TRAPS

A live catch trap having a light-based sensor mounted therein and remote communication capability is provided. The light-based sensor may be a visual image device such as a CMOS or CCD camera that evaluates the status of the trap interior for the presence of insects and/or rodents. The camera may be activated to check the trap interior either periodically or in response to an event as detected by one or more sensors such as a motion detector, accelerometer, pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor. Alternatively, the trap may include a reflectivity sensor or a photo sensor including arrays of LEDs and photodiodes. The trap includes a microprocessor that evaluates the data collected by the light-based sensor to determine what type of activity has been sensed and then reports this information wirelessly to a remote user.