Why Off-Grid Cabin Security is Critical
If your cabin isn’t your primary residence, you should consider a few extra safety and security measures. Why? Ever heard of the North Pond Hermit? For nearly 30 years, he lived a solitary life in Central Maine. One of his many secrets to survival was breaking into seasonal cabins to steal food, propane, and books. Victimless crime? Maybe. Harmless? Hell no. It’s downright freaky to have your home broken into—whether it’s a vacation cabin or a primary residence. No matter where your home away from home might be, here are five easy things you can do to keep the tweakers, thieves, and nosy neighbors out of your business.
1. Use a Wireless Trail Camera
Trail cameras are fantastic for hunting and work incredibly well at keeping tabs on your place. We have a cabin in northwest Montana that’s entirely off the grid. Its roof is a magnet for old spruce trees, and I wanted something to inform me if a tree fell on it during the long winters. I installed a wireless trail camera that sends a daily photo to my cell phone. I’m currently using a TACTACAM camera and their SOLAR PANEL. It’s got a 32GB memory card and an external solar-powered battery charger. The learning curve to set it up was a bit steep, but now it’s nice to have. I haven’t had any issues unless the temperature drops to -15 or colder. Then it stops uploading until the weather warms back up. The whole setup, including the memory card, was around $200. The cell plan costs $5/month. Honestly, it saves me plenty in gas. Now I don’t feel the need to check on it once each month in the winter.
2. Maintain Appearance: Cut the Grass and Trim Debris
We don’t use the cabin as much as I’d like. But when we do go there, we keep the place looking nice. Rather than let the weeds take over, we mow and weed-eat, blow debris off the roof, and make the area appear as if someone always lives there. These things aren’t just for aesthetics either. A few years ago, a massive forest fire burned within a quarter-mile of the place. A stray ember could have easily ignited duff on the roof or an overgrown patch of dead grass. Mowing and managing debris is crucial for curb appeal and creating defensible space around your cabin to protect it from fire.
3. Keep the Interior Clean to Deter Mice and Bears
A clean cabin on the outside is one way to keep the two-legged intruders away, and a clean cabin on the inside keeps the four-legged intruders out. The area around our cabin is a wild place. It’s full of skunks, foxes, deer, wolves, black and grizzly bears, and lions. But the only issues we’ve ever had were with the tiny variety—mice and pack rats. It’s an ongoing battle, but we’re holding our own. The five-gallon bucket mouse trap tally is in the triple digits, and I’ve used enough spray foam to choke a goat. Sweeping up any food after every visit helps, too. If you ever want to know what a bad mouse problem looks like, just rent a Forest Service cabin in winter.
4. Install Solar-Powered Lights as a Visual Deterrent
Because we’re off the grid, we use solar LED lights to mark the outhouse, the outside deck, and the front porch. They are awesome. It takes a little away from the insane star-gazing, but it looks like someone is home at the cabin every night. They come on at dark and last until the wee hours of the morning. We bought strips from Harbor Freight and Amazon. We buy cheap lights because our winters are harsh, and the lights don’t hold up as long as they should.
5. The Best Security System: Use Your Cabin Often
The best way to keep your place secure is by simply being there. Trespassers rarely want to encounter real-live humans who may or may not be armed. And let’s be honest, most of us in the middle of nowhere Montana (including kids) are usually armed. So get up there when you can, even if it’s for the day. Besides, a day at the cabin beats a day in town.
