Summer is here, and your backyard oasis is ready for endless days of swimming and relaxation. However, you’re not the only one eyeing that refreshing pool. Local wildlife views your swimming pool as an attractive water source, especially during hot summer days. 

Keeping wildlife out of your pool is essential not only for maintaining cleanliness but also for preventing harm to curious animals who might become trapped and drown. At Skedaddle, we understand the delicate balance between enjoying your outdoor space and coexisting with local wildlife. 

Let’s explore effective strategies to keep wildlife out of your pool while still appreciating the natural world around us.  

Why Wildlife Are Attracted to Your Swimming Pool

Understanding why animals are drawn to your pool is the first step in successfully preventing them from taking an uninvited dip. Several factors make your pool irresistible to local wildlife:  

• Water Source: In hot summer months, animals desperately seek reliable water sources, and your pool represents an abundant supply.  
• Easy Access: Many pools lack adequate barriers, making them easily accessible to various wildlife species.  
• Night Attraction: Pool lighting can attract insects, which in turn attracts insect-eating wildlife like bats and frogs.  
• Surrounding Habitat: Lush landscaping near pools provides cover for animals to approach safely.  
• Natural Behaviour: Many animals, like raccoons, are naturally drawn to water for drinking, bathing, and finding food.

Understanding these attraction factors helps us develop more effective strategies for wildlife-proofing your pool. Wildlife is simply following their instincts when approaching your pool—they’re not intentionally causing problems.  

Common Pool Visitors and Their Risks

Different regions experience different wildlife visitors, but some common pool-crashers include:  

Small Mammals

Raccoons, squirrels, and skunks frequently visit backyards. While they’re excellent swimmers, they can become trapped if they can’t find their way out. These animals may:  

• Contaminate pool water with bacteria  
• Damage equipment and liners with their claws  
• Create unsanitary conditions around the pool area

Birds

Birds visit pools to drink and bathe:  

• Can contaminate water with droppings  
• May damage covers when landing  
• Often bring food items that end up in the water

Not only can these wildlife visitors create maintenance headaches, but they also face serious risks themselves. The smooth sides of pools make it nearly impossible for many animals to escape once they fall in, leading to exhaustion and drowning.  

Wildlife-proof Your Pool

One of the most reliable ways to prevent animals in your swimming pool is through physical barriers. These solutions create a protective boundary while maintaining your pool’s aesthetic appeal:  

Pool Covers

1. Solid Safety Covers: These provide complete protection when the pool isn’t in use, preventing wildlife access entirely.  
2. Automatic Covers: Though more expensive, they offer convenience with the push of a button and create a solid barrier.  
3. Solar Covers: While primarily designed to retain heat, these can also deter some wildlife, though they aren’t as effective as dedicated safety covers.

Pro Tip: Ensure your cover is properly tensioned and secured to prevent animals from getting underneath it.  

Pool Fencing Solutions

A well-designed pool fence serves dual purposes—it keeps children safe while also deterring wildlife:  

• Height Considerations: Fencing should be at least 4-5 feet tall to prevent jumping animals.  
• Material Selection: Choose fencing with minimal gaps between pickets.  
• Ground Clearance: Keep the bottom of the fence close to the ground (less than 2 inches) to prevent smaller animals from squeezing underneath.

Pool Skimmer Escape Routes

For animals that do make it into your pool, providing escape routes is crucial:  

• FrogLog: This simple device provides a platform and ramp for small animals to escape.  
• Skamper-Ramp: A larger option for bigger animals.  
• DIY Solutions: Even something as simple as a secured rope or plank can serve as an escape route.

Remember that barriers work best when combined with other prevention strategies as part of a comprehensive approach to wildlife-proof your pool.  

Habitat Modification: Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Yard Without Pool Problems

Rather than solely focusing on keeping wildlife away, consider creating alternatives that meet their needs while directing them away from your swimming pool. This holistic approach can be remarkably effective for long-term wildlife management.  

Alternative Water Sources

Providing dedicated wildlife water features can significantly reduce pool visits. Installing bird baths, building shallow wildlife ponds, and strategically placing ground-level water dishes can satisfy animals’ hydration needs. It’s essential to position these alternatives at the edge of your property to intercept wildlife before they reach your pool area.  

Landscape Management

How you manage your yard can influence wildlife behaviors around your pool. Implementing strategic plantings can attract wildlife to certain areas, while maintaining a clear area around the pool deters animals from hiding nearby. Ensure no food sources, such as fallen fruit or unattended pet food, are easily accessible within the vicinity.  

Creating Wildlife Corridors

Guide wildlife to move through your yard in ways that avoid your pool. Use plantings to create natural pathways directing animals away from the pool, and install decorative features like rock gardens or dry creek beds that wildlife will follow. Consider fencing that channels wildlife movement toward safer areas of your property.  

This balanced approach allows you to maintain a wildlife-friendly yard while preventing unwanted pool encounters. By meeting animals’ needs elsewhere, you naturally reduce their interest in your swimming pool.  

Wildlife Deterrents: Humane Options That Actually Work

Sometimes additional deterrents are needed to convince persistent wildlife to stay away from your pool area. The best deterrents are both humane and effective. Solutions like motion-activated sprinklers and lights, ultrasonic devices, reflective objects, and scent-based deterrents can be effective when used correctly. Remember to integrate them as part of a comprehensive strategy, as these tools alone might not suffice.  

Nighttime Protection Strategies

Many wildlife encounters happen after dark when you’re not actively using your pool:

1. Cover Your Pool: Always use a safety cover overnight to prevent nocturnal visitors.
2. Adjust Lighting: Switch to amber-colored bulbs that attract fewer insects.
3. Time Pool Cleaning: Run filters and cleaners during the day rather than at night to avoid attracting wildlife with sounds.
4. Secure Pool Toys: Remove floating toys that animals might mistake as safe landing spots.

These nighttime-specific strategies address the unique challenges of nocturnal wildlife visitors and complement your daytime protection measures.

When to Call Wildlife Professionals

Despite your best efforts, some wildlife encounters may require professional intervention. If you’re dealing with repeated wildlife issues, or if an animal seems injured or aggressive, contacting a professional service like Skedaddle is the best course of action. They can provide tailored advice and solutions that ensure both your peace of mind and the safety of local wildlife.

Ensuring that your pool remains a sanctuary for fun and relaxation while preventing wildlife intrusion can be challenging, but it is entirely achievable with the right strategies. At Skedaddle, we pride ourselves on providing humane, effective solutions for human-wildlife conflicts.  

If wildlife is problematic around your pool, contact Skedaddle today for expert advice and customized solutions. Protect your summer oasis while keeping it a safe haven for both your family and the surrounding environment.