When most of us think of a video doorbell revealing an unwanted guest, we assume the guest is either a burglar or a porch pirate. Sometimes it is. Other times it is not. One Canadian woman experienced an encounter with a guest at her front door, a guest who was anything but human.
The unwanted guest was actually a buck. The adorable but powerful animal decided the holiday arrangements on her front porch would make a tasty meal. What he did not know was that the homeowner was watching him through her video doorbell. She recorded the interaction – and it is priceless.
Politely Ask Him to Stop
If you received an alert from your video doorbell only to find a buck munching on your plants, how would you react? I’m not sure what I would do. I am neither a hunter nor an enthusiastic animal lover. In fact, I am quite ambivalent about the whole animal thing. I don’t know if I would react at all.
The woman in question decided to have a conversation with her animal visitor. She politely asked him to stop eating her holiday arrangements. Hearing her voice over the built-in speaker certainly got the buck’s attention. With a little bit of coaxing, she managed to convince him to turn around and leave.
The video really is fun to watch. Make sure you check the link above if you want to see it for yourself. I appreciate it because it represents one of the few happy endings that come with video doorbell footage. Usually, the footage we see online shows packages being swiped or burglars breaking in.
Video Doorbell Basics
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with how video doorbells work. It is actually pretty simple technology. As Vivint Home Security explains, a video doorbell is a tech-powered piece of kit that combines a standard doorbell with a small video camera, a speaker, and a microphone. Here’s what each component offers:
- Video Camera – The video camera allows a homeowner to see who or what is standing at the front door.
- Speaker – The speaker allows the person at the door to hear the homeowner talking to him.
- Microphone – The microphone allows the homeowner to hear what the visitor has to say.
Between all three components, the homeowner and visitor can have a nice conversation. However, that conversation will probably be one-sided if the guest happens to be a porch pirate or burglar. Just hearing a homeowner’s voice can send porch pirates and burglars running scared.
Installing a Video Doorbell
Installing a video doorbell is pretty simple. In fact, there are a number of options. The first option is to purchase a doorbell from a company like Vivint. All video doorbells Vivint sells are fully compatible with their out-of-the-box home automation systems. Installation is easy.
A second option is to buy a brand name video doorbell compatible with your current home automation system. My system is powered by Home Assistant, which supports a number of different video doorbell brands.
Your third option is to purchase a standalone device that you will use and control exclusively with your phone. They are a dime a dozen and pretty easy to install. Be sure to purchase a wireless device if your house isn’t already equipped with a doorbell. Otherwise, you are looking at significant construction.
At that moment you realize your video doorbell has been triggered can be an anxious one. But maybe your unwanted guest is just a buck looking for a quick meal. Who knows? Maybe if you ask him nicely, he will stop eating your plants and head back to the forest.