We love swimming pools, and we’re willing to bet you do too! They’re excellent for relaxing, working out, splashing in the sun, and all around enjoying your free time in the summer. However, they can be deadly for your local wildlife in the area, such as chipmunks, mice, lizards, and frogs, which can make their way into your pool and have no way of escaping. Another problem for you can be wildfowl, such as ducks, swimming in your pool, as their waste can disrupt the delicate balance of your pool’s chemistry and require extra cleaning.
While there is no surefire way to keep animals out of your outdoor pool all the time, we will outline a few precautions that you can take to either prevent animals from entering your pool or to help them safely exit if they do find their way in.
A pool fence is a crucial safety feature that prevents larger animals and pets from accessing the pool. Many state and local codes require that pool owners have a fence around their pool, but even if they don’t, a fence is a great safety feature to prevent not just pets, but also children from entering. If you do have pets and children, make sure they can’t jump or otherwise climb over the fence.
While pool fences can help keep larger animals out of your pool, pool covers are effective for smaller animals, such as mice, frogs, and lizards. Whereas it’s not foolproof, it can also help prevent ducks or other water birds from resting in your pool.
A screen enclosure, or pool cage, can prevent access to both larger and smaller animals from entering your pool, thanks to its finer mesh weave compared to most pool fences.
Just like a scarecrow in a field, large inflatables can scare away animals, especially birds. Large, brightly colored inflatables are best, especially if they resemble other animals in shape and design. You can also buy decoys of fake predators like owls or hawks to scare ducks away.
Pool alarms not only alert you if there’s any unwanted access to your pool, whether it’s by animals or children. However, their noise can also deter unwanted pests from the pool. Alongside this, automatic water sprinklers can scare away animals with sudden bursts of water. If you have an automatic pool cleaner, these can also scare animals away.
If you have space in your yard, it might be worth creating a pond or other wildlife area away from your pool to attract wildlife. Add shelter and plants, along with stones and logs that will help them climb in and out of the water.
Food and drinks can attract a wide range of animals, so cleaning up after pool parties is crucial. Other debris can also attract unwanted animals, as well as overgrown plants and low-hanging branches. Keeping your yard tidy can also deter ducks from nesting and entering your pool.
Ensure that any pool cover you have is properly fitted and secured to prevent animals from getting trapped underneath. Regularly check for any tears or loose edges, as even the most minor gaps can allow small creatures in.
If any animals do get in your pool, then it’s a good idea to have some way of letting them get out. For climbing animals, this can be a rope with knots tied periodically to it and draped into your pool.
For those critters that can’t climb, then a FrogLog is a solution that gives frogs, chipmunks, ducklings, and other small creatures a way out of your pool. It’s also great for spas, hot tubs, ponds, and fountains!
And for household pets, there’s Pup Planks. Available in a range of sizes to fit your four-legged friend, and are great for letting your pets get in and out of your pool.
If you’re ever out by your pool and spot a small animal that’s trapped, you can easily use your leaf net or leaf rake to gently lift them out of the pool and guide them to safety. Always make sure that you’re using caution when dealing with wild animals to avoid being bitten or causing them harm.
Common animals that can fall into your pool are frogs, lizards, chipmunks, and mice that are attracted by food or water nearby.
Yes - most animals can't climb out of the slick pool walls, which sadly leads to drowning in most circumstances.
Insects such as water boatmen, backswimmers, mosquitoes, and springtails are attracted to both water and, if it's in your pool, algae. You can remove them with skimming or vacuuming your pool.
According to the CDC, most dead animals pose minimal risk; however, you should remove them with gloves, double-bag them, disinfect any tools, dispose of them properly, and wash your hands thoroughly. After that, shock your pool and ensure to balance your chemicals.
