Questions and answers

Squirrels, birds, cats and dogs, plus your own pets. Birds are one group for now, so a pigeon and a sparrow get the same response. More species will come through updates. You choose which ones to deter.

When an animal you selected shows up, it plays a short, natural predator call chosen for the species, with a light pattern, and sends a notification to your phone at the same moment. Calls and patterns vary every time, so unlike repellers on a timer there is no rhythm to learn. If you are home, the notification is your cue to step out and shoo the animal away.

The sound alone works at first. To keep it working, back it up early on: when your phone buzzes, step out and shoo them away. Animals learn fast, bold city squirrels included. After a few rounds they link the sound with you showing up and leave at the first notes, even when you are not home.

A motion repeller reacts to everything that moves: you, your cat, leaves in the wind. Animals learn it quickly, and it never tells you what happened. BalconyPatrol recognises who is there, reacts only to the animals you chose, stays quiet for people and pets, and shows you every visit.

Yes. Deterrence is off by default per animal, so it works as a solar wildlife camera with a gallery and visit history until you decide otherwise.

No. Add your cat or dog in the app and it is never deterred, while the neighbour’s cat still is. In Basic mode (no Wi-Fi or full darkness) the camera cannot recognise anyone, so an AirTag or any Bluetooth tag on the collar keeps your pet exempt. No tag? Keep Basic mode off if your pet goes out at night.

Unlikely. It plays short predator calls only when a selected animal appears, never for a passer-by or leaves in the wind, so it stays quiet most of the day. Volume is adjustable; quiet hours are planned.

No. The camera sleeps until motion wakes it and it only looks at your planters. People are filtered on the device with local AI, and a photo of a person is never stored or shown. Only wildlife photos reach the gallery.

Designed for balconies, patios and backyards. Put it on a railing, a shelf or beside a garden bed, facing your planters. One device covers a typical balcony or a few planters. No drilling, wires or wall socket.

It switches to Basic mode: it cannot tell species apart, so it responds to motion unless a phone or Bluetooth tag is nearby. People carry phones, your pet can wear an AirTag, wildlife carries nothing, and a person seen by the camera is ignored too. You can turn Basic mode off instead. Wi-Fi brings species recognition, the photo gallery and updates.

Several days to several weeks, depending on how busy your space is. It sleeps most of the time and a small solar panel tops up the battery. If it ever runs flat, any USB-C phone charger brings it back.

Yes at dusk and in low light, with full recognition. In full darkness the camera cannot see who is there, so it switches to Basic mode. Prefer silence at night? Turn Basic mode off and it sleeps until morning.

Yes. The enclosure is sealed against rain and snow, and charging is tuned for cold, cloudy and rainy days.

An optional one is planned, alongside a free tier. We’ll share what each includes before launch.

The first 50 people to join the waitlist will be selected for a free beta unit. Beta testers keep the app free for as long as they use it. In return, we ask for honest feedback and a few photos along the way. What they report shapes the final version.

It’s designed in Canada and tested outdoors in Canada, through a full winter of snow and rain. The beta starts with people in Canada.