diff --git a/eve_local_watcher.py b/eve_local_watcher.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5af5256
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eve_local_watcher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Local watcher — 'someone just entered Local' alerts for isolated systems.
+
+EVE has no API for who's in Local, and the chat logs only record *messages*, not who
+jumps in/out. So this reads your **Local member list** off the screen and pings you
+when the pilot count rises — exactly what matters when you're mining somewhere quiet
+like Solitude and a stranger lands in system. Best in low-population systems (the whole
+member list is visible); in a busy hub it just tracks what's on screen.
+
+Only runs during a mining session (`!mining on` in Discord). Point it at your Local
+window once:  python eve_local_watcher.py --snip   (or send Brock a screenshot and he
+sets [local] region in config.ini). Auto-found if the window shows the word 'Local'.
+
+  python eve_local_watcher.py            # normal (waits for !mining on)
+  python eve_local_watcher.py --snip     # box your Local member-list window
+  python eve_local_watcher.py --test     # read once and print the pilot count
+"""
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+import time
+
+HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+sys.path.insert(0, HERE)
+import eve_orehold_watcher as w        # load_config, notify, grab_region, heartbeat, bot_mining, snip_region
+
+
+def count_pilots(text):
+    """Count name-like lines in the OCR'd member list (a row per pilot)."""
+    n = 0
+    for line in text.splitlines():
+        s = line.strip()
+        if len(s) < 3:
+            continue
+        if s.lower().startswith("local"):            # channel header, not a pilot
+            continue
+        if sum(c.isalpha() for c in s) >= 2:         # looks like a name
+            n += 1
+    return n
+
+
+def save_local_region(cp, l, t, wd, ht):
+    if not cp.has_section("local"):
+        cp.add_section("local")
+    cp["local"]["region"] = f"{l},{t},{wd},{ht}"
+    with open(w.CONFIG_PATH, "w") as f:
+        cp.write(f)
+
+
+def detect_local_region(cp):
+    """Best-effort: find the Local window by locating the 'Local' label, take the
+    column beneath it as the member list. Falls back to None (use --snip)."""
+    import mss
+    import pytesseract
+    from PIL import Image
+    tcmd = cp.get("ocr", "tesseract_cmd", fallback="").strip()
+    if tcmd:
+        pytesseract.pytesseract.tesseract_cmd = tcmd
+    try:
+        with mss.mss() as sct:
+            mon = sct.monitors[0]
+            raw = sct.grab(mon)
+            img = Image.frombytes("RGB", raw.size, raw.bgra, "raw", "BGRX")
+        data = pytesseract.image_to_data(img, output_type=pytesseract.Output.DICT)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"[local] detect error: {e}")
+        return None
+    for i in range(len(data["text"])):
+        if data["text"][i].strip().lower() == "local":
+            x = mon["left"] + data["left"][i] - 10
+            y = mon["top"] + data["top"][i] - 6
+            wd = max(220, data["width"][i] + 220)
+            ht = 600                                  # capture the list beneath the label
+            save_local_region(cp, x, y, wd, ht)
+            print(f"[local] auto-located Local window near {x},{y}")
+            return [x, y, wd, ht]
+    return None
+
+
+def get_region(cp):
+    rs = cp.get("local", "region", fallback="").strip() if cp.has_section("local") else ""
+    if rs:
+        return [int(v) for v in rs.split(",")]
+    print("[local] no saved region — trying to auto-locate the Local window...")
+    return detect_local_region(cp)
+
+
+def main():
+    cp = w.load_config()
+    if "--snip" in sys.argv:
+        r = w.snip_region("Drag a box around your whole Local member-list window. Esc to cancel.")
+        if r:
+            save_local_region(cp, *r)
+            print(f"Saved Local region {r} to config.ini")
+        else:
+            print("Cancelled.")
+        return
+
+    import pytesseract
+    tcmd = cp.get("ocr", "tesseract_cmd", fallback="").strip()
+    if tcmd:
+        pytesseract.pytesseract.tesseract_cmd = tcmd
+
+    poll = cp.getint("local", "poll_secs", fallback=8) if cp.has_section("local") else 8
+    cooldown = cp.getint("local", "cooldown_secs", fallback=30) if cp.has_section("local") else 30
+
+    if "--test" in sys.argv:
+        region = get_region(cp)
+        if not region:
+            print("No Local region. Run --snip (or send a screenshot).")
+            return
+        print("pilots:", count_pilots(pytesseract.image_to_string(w.grab_region(region))))
+        return
+
+    print(f"[local] started; poll {poll}s (waits for !mining on)")
+    region = None
+    prev = None
+    pending = None
+    pend_n = 0
+    last_alert = 0.0
+    while True:
+        if not w.bot_mining(cp):
+            prev = None
+            time.sleep(15)
+            continue
+        if region is None:
+            region = get_region(cp)
+            if region is None:
+                print("[local] Local window not found — open it / run --snip. Retrying...")
+                time.sleep(max(poll, 20))
+                continue
+            w.heartbeat(cp, "local")
+        try:
+            count = count_pilots(pytesseract.image_to_string(w.grab_region(region)))
+            now = time.time()
+            if prev is None:
+                prev = count
+                print(f"[local] baseline {count} pilots")
+            elif count > prev:
+                # confirm over 2 reads to shrug off OCR jitter
+                pend_n = pend_n + 1 if pending == count else 1
+                pending = count
+                if pend_n >= 2 and now - last_alert > cooldown:
+                    w.notify(cp, "Someone entered Local",
+                             f"+{count - prev} in Local — {count} pilots now (was {prev}). "
+                             "Check d-scan / watch for a visitor on your field.",
+                             priority="high", tags="eyes,warning")
+                    last_alert = now
+                    prev = count
+                    pending, pend_n = None, 0
+            else:
+                if count < prev:
+                    prev = count                      # someone left; rebaseline down
+                pending, pend_n = None, 0
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"[local] error: {e}")
+        time.sleep(poll)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()