[Detector Support]: Bear walked in front of camera. No detection

[JimBuzbee]

Describe the problem you are having

I'm having trouble getting detections. I get some, like people, but others that should be obvious result in no alert/detection/motion. This afternoon, a bear walked right in front of the camera and I got nothing. I only found about it when scrubbing back through the camera history. And I had the same result with a small flock of turkeys walking through the yard. Cars on the road seen in the bear video are rarely detected if at all. People walking on the road are almost always detected. Any ideas?

side_yard_20250824_182321-20250824_182414_oa2j3n.mp4

Version

0.16.0-c2f8de9

Frigate config file

logger:
  default: debug
  logs:
    frigate.detectors: debug
    frigate.object_detection: debug

mqtt:
  enabled: true
  host: debian.xxx.ts.net
  port: 1883
  user: frigate
  password: xxx
  topic_prefix: ha/cabin/frigate

record:
  enabled: true
  retain:
    days: 7
    mode: motion
  alerts:
    retain:
      days: 30
      mode: motion
  detections:
    retain:
      days: 30
      mode: motion

snapshots:
  enabled: true
  retain:
    default: 30

detectors:
  coral:
    type: edgetpu
    device: usb
    model_path: plus://xxx

review:
  alerts:
    labels:
      - deer
      - bear
      - person
      - dog
      - cat
      - cow
      - bird
      - squirrel
      - rabbit
      - car
      - license_plate

objects:
  track:
    - person
    - face
    - car
    - motorcycle
    - bicycle
    - school_bus
    - license_plate
    - amazon
    - usps
    - ups
    - fedex
    - dhl
    - dog
    - cat
    - deer
    - horse
    - bird
    - raccoon
    - fox
    - bear
    - cow
    - squirrel
    - goat
    - rabbit
    - skunk
    - package
    - waste_bin
    - bbq_grill
    - umbrella
    - baby
    - bpost
    - badger
    - possum
    - rodent
    - chicken
    - groundhog
    - boar
    - hedgehog
    - tractor
    - golf cart
    - garbage truck
    - bus
    - sports ball

go2rtc:
  streams:
    front_yard_main:
      - rtsp://admin:xxx@192.168.10.26:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
    front_yard_sub:
      - rtsp://admin:xxx@192.168.10.26:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1
    side_yard_main:
      - rtsp://admin:xxx@192.168.10.27:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
    side_yard_sub:
      - rtsp://admin:xxx@192.168.10.27:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1

  webrtc:
    candidates:
      - 192.168.10.26:8555
      - 192.168.10.27:8555

cameras:
  front_yard:
    ffmpeg:
      hwaccel_args: preset-intel-qsv-h264
      inputs:
        - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/front_yard_sub
          input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
          roles:
            - detect
        - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/front_yard_main
          input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
          roles:
            - record
    live:
      streams:
        front_yard_main: front_yard_main
    detect:
      enabled: true
      fps: 10
    motion:
      threshold: 30


      mask: 0.656,0.026,0.658,0.114,0.976,0.116,0.973,0.021
  side_yard:
    ffmpeg:
      hwaccel_args: preset-intel-qsv-h264
      inputs:
        - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/side_yard_sub
          input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
          roles:
            - detect
        - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/side_yard_main
          input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
          roles:
            - record
    live:
      streams:
        side_yard_main: side_yard_main
    detect:
      enabled: true
      fps: 10
    motion:
      threshold: 30

      mask: 0.659,0.03,0.662,0.105,0.977,0.109,0.975,0.031
version: 0.16-0
detect:
  enabled: true
semantic_search:
  enabled: false
  model_size: small
face_recognition:
  enabled: true
  model_size: small
lpr:
  enabled: true
classification:
  bird:
    enabled: true
camera_groups:
  Cabin:
    order: 1
    icon: LuAirplay
    cameras:
      - front_yard
      - side_yard

docker-compose file or Docker CLI command

services:
  frigate:
    container_name: frigate
    image: ghcr.io/blakeblackshear/frigate:stable
    privileged: true
    restart: unless-stopped
    shm_size: "512mb"
    devices:
      - /dev/dri/renderD128 # VAAPI for Intel hardware acceleration (EQ14)
    volumes:
      - /home/jimbuzbee/frigate/config:/config
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - /media/frigate:/media/frigate
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"   # Web UI
      - "8554:8554"   # RTSP stream
      - "8555:8555/tcp" # WebRTC
      - "1984:1984/tcp" # WebRTC
    environment:
      - PLUS_API_KEY=xxx

Relevant Frigate log output

2025-08-24 18:22:50.801448917  [2025-08-24 18:22:50] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : front_yard now has recordings available through 1756081357.0
2025-08-24 18:22:50.801733294  [2025-08-24 18:22:50] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : side_yard now has recordings available through 1756081356.0
2025-08-24 18:22:55.775902793  [2025-08-24 18:22:55] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:22:57.651566358  [2025-08-24 18:22:57] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Starting stats collection
2025-08-24 18:22:57.653768844  [2025-08-24 18:22:57] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:22:58.166302282  [2025-08-24 18:22:58] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Finished stats collection
2025-08-24 18:23:00.776486798  [2025-08-24 18:23:00] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:00.802208388  [2025-08-24 18:23:00] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : side_yard now has recordings available through 1756081366.0
2025-08-24 18:23:00.802525276  [2025-08-24 18:23:00] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : front_yard now has recordings available through 1756081367.0
2025-08-24 18:23:05.775446491  [2025-08-24 18:23:05] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:10.777701769  [2025-08-24 18:23:10] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:10.807577579  [2025-08-24 18:23:10] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : front_yard now has recordings available through 1756081377.0
2025-08-24 18:23:10.807886167  [2025-08-24 18:23:10] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : side_yard now has recordings available through 1756081376.0
2025-08-24 18:23:13.167603054  [2025-08-24 18:23:13] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Starting stats collection
2025-08-24 18:23:13.169431323  [2025-08-24 18:23:13] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:13.681380525  [2025-08-24 18:23:13] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Finished stats collection
2025-08-24 18:23:15.777781422  [2025-08-24 18:23:15] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:20.778002004  [2025-08-24 18:23:20] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:20.802882729  [2025-08-24 18:23:20] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : front_yard now has recordings available through 1756081387.0
2025-08-24 18:23:20.803163404  [2025-08-24 18:23:20] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : side_yard now has recordings available through 1756081386.0
2025-08-24 18:23:25.778193603  [2025-08-24 18:23:25] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:27.261410917  [2025-08-24 18:23:27] frigate.record.cleanup         DEBUG   : Checking preview /tmp/cache/preview_side_yard_1756078753.236284-1756078773.434796.mp4.
2025-08-24 18:23:28.682871975  [2025-08-24 18:23:28] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Starting stats collection
2025-08-24 18:23:28.684325874  [2025-08-24 18:23:28] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:29.200148361  [2025-08-24 18:23:29] frigate.stats.emitter          DEBUG   : Finished stats collection
2025-08-24 18:23:30.778322935  [2025-08-24 18:23:30] asyncio                        DEBUG   : Using selector: EpollSelector
2025-08-24 18:23:30.811589359  [2025-08-24 18:23:30] frigate.embeddings.maintainer  DEBUG   : side_yard now has recordings available through 1756081396.0

Install method

Docker Compose

Object Detector

Coral

Screenshots of the Frigate UI's System metrics pages

Any other information that may be helpful

No response

[inkeep-ai-assistant[bot]]

Your config is tracking a wide range of objects, including “bear,” but missed detections can happen for several reasons:

1. Motion Detection Sensitivity: If motion detection is not triggered, object detection will not run. Your threshold is set to 30, which is the default. If motion from large animals like bears or turkeys is not being picked up, try lowering the threshold to make motion detection more sensitive. Too low, though, and you might get false positives from things like grass or lighting changes. You can adjust this and test using the Motion Tuner in the Frigate UI(1)(2).

2. Motion Masks: If a mask covers the area where the bear or turkeys passed, motion in that region will be ignored. Review your masks to ensure they aren’t blocking desired areas(1)(2).

3. Model Support: Tracking an object in the config (like “bear”) does not guarantee the detection model can reliably detect it. If you’re using a Frigate+ model, ensure it’s trained for those animal classes. Not all models support all classes equally(2).

4. Review Items and Alerts: Even if “bear” is in your review/alerts list, it must be detected by the object detector to trigger an alert or review item. Confirm the model’s capabilities and check the Review settings(3).

5. Detection Stream Quality: Low-resolution streams or poor image quality (e.g., at night, heavy rain, or fog) can reduce detection reliability. Make sure your detect stream is clear and covers the area well(2).

6. Logs and Debug: Set logging to debug (as you have) and monitor the motion debug view in the UI to see if motion is being detected when animals pass through(1).

In summary, review your motion detection threshold, masks, and ensure your detection model supports the animals you want to detect. Use the debug tools in Frigate’s UI to test motion and detection events in real time.

📚 Sources:

1. Tuning Motion Detection
2. Full Reference Config
3. Review

---

Have another question? Just tag @inkeep.

[NickM-27]

You're not using your Frigate+ model because the indentation is incorrect. You should delete that config and instead just use the UI to select your Frigate+ model

[NickM-27]

Yes that is how it should look.

Frigate+ model can be configured under frigate+ settings in the UI in the settings page

[JimBuzbee]

Thanks - I see that now. I updated and will let it run for a while and hopefully get it to pick up all the wildlife that wanders through the yard!

[JimBuzbee]

Getting much better results now that I am actually using my Frigate+ model :-) Have not seen my bear again yet, but I did get detections of a flock of turkeys as well as lots of cars. Thanks!

[NickM-27]

Glad to hear it, feel free to create a new discussion if the bears don't come through as expected

[JimBuzbee]

Detected and alerted on the bear last night. Thanks again!