Summer is a great time to cool off in the swimming pool. Unfortunately, you may not be the only one to try to use your pool on a hot summer’s day. Wild animals may take advantage of it to cool off. This can create dangerous situations and health hazards for you and your family. Below, we will discuss some of these dangers, as they pertain to different animals.
Small Critters in the Pool
Smaller animals like frogs, rodents, snakes, and birds may end up in your pool. Sometimes, these smaller animals will fall in by accident. They may not be able to get out themselves. If you see a small animal in the pool, consider using your skimmer to gently scoop them out. If they seem hesitant or you are afraid that they may climb up the pole toward you, consider providing a ramp with a wooden plank, pool noodle, or another long object that they can grip easily.
Raccoons
Raccoons love to swim. They have a tendency to dip their food in water sources before eating. They are also prone to using water sources as bathrooms. Overall, raccoons love pools because of these behaviors. Pools with stairs can be easily accessible by raccoons, but they may struggle getting out of pools with just ladders. A raccoon’s long nails can also scratch vinyl materials such as your liner.
Deer in the Water
Deer aren’t expert swimmers, but they do love the water. They can easily hop fences to gain access to your pool. Unfortunately, deer aren’t great at exiting the pool. If they are in there for too long, they may drown.
Bears Love Swimming Pools
If you live in an area with bears, they may take a dip in your pool from time to time. Bears love swimming pools, especially those with food items left unattended nearby.
Scat in the Swimming Pool
While pool chemicals can help reduce the spread of illness, it isn’t a perfect solution. Many forms of bacteria and parasites carried by wild animals can survive in a pool. This can include those found in the animal’s scat. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause diarrhea in infected people and animals. It can also live up to 10 days in a chlorine pool. If you see scat in the pool, no one should be swimming.
Preventing Animals from Swimming
While you may not be able to stop every wild animal from swimming in your pool, there are a few ways to protect it from them. First, consider using bear or deer deterrent sprays if you live in areas with those animals. If possible, fence in your pool area. Consider investing in an automatic pool cover. Motion-sensor floodlights at night can also deter some critters.
Keeping your pool area free of food can also reduce animal encounters. Clean up thoroughly after pool parties and BBQs. Keep your trash secured in animal-proof, locking bins.
Professional Help for Wild Animals In Your Pool
If there is a wild animal in your pool, consider contacting NY/NJ Wildlife Removal services. We can help guide the animal out of your pool. We can also assess if you need to properly clean or even drain the pool to deal with the waste material of the animal. It is important to keep the health and safety of your family in mind when dealing with wild animals in the pool.