Why Are Rats Drinking Your Pool Water?

If you are lucky enough to have a backyard pool, you probably see it as an oasis, a retreat from the troubles of the world around you. Unfortunately, rats drinking out of your pool can change your blissful slice of paradise into a place of horror. You do not want to swim in a pool that rats have been drinking out of; until the pool is cleaned correctly, it is not safe. Rats drinking out of the pool could signal an infestation on your property, perhaps even inside your house, requiring professional rat removal in Hamilton.

Why Do Rats Drink Pool Water?

All animals need water to survive, and rats are no exception. Some animals do not need to drink very much because they eat high water content foods that fulfill their hydration needs. Unfortunately for rats, they do not have this capability. They have to drink water to survive. Rats need to drink water, and they aren't too picky about where they get it. They are opportunistic creatures that will press every advantage they can find. If the only place they can find water is a swimming pool, then they will drink out of it with no hesitation.

Doesn't the Chlorination in the Pool Hurt Rats?

Chlorine is added to swimming pools to kill germs and keep the water clean and sanitary. The chlorine is heavily diluted so that, while it may be fatal to micro-organisms, it has little, if any, effect on humans and animals, even relatively small animals such as rats. According to studies, chlorine consumption may reduce the male rats' sperm count and delay puberty in female rats, but no other adverse effects were recorded, and even the reproductive problems are not serious enough to be disruptive to the population. More bad news: Chlorination may not be adequate to kill some pathogens that could be transmitted to your pool through the rat's saliva, such as E. coli or salmonella. It might be more effective if you were to increase the chlorine content, but you have to keep the chlorination at a level safe for humans if you want to continue enjoying your pool.

What Other Problems Are Caused by Rats Drinking From Your Pool?

Rats may not be satisfied by merely drinking out of the pool. They like to gnaw on wires to keep their front teeth filed down. They can cause problems if they get into the filter system or pool heater. Sometimes rats fall into the pool and drown because they can't pull themselves back up again. Not only does this look disgusting, but it can introduce parasites into your pool, and again, chlorination may not be sufficient to get rid of them.

What Can You Do To Keep Rats Out of Your Pool?

The most obvious solution is to keep your pool covered when it is not in use, especially at night when rats are most active. If the rats cannot reach the water, they cannot drink from the pool. However, rats drinking out of the pool may be only part of a much bigger problem. You should avoid attracting rats from your property by eliminating food sources. This can be a challenge because rats are omnivorous, but you should keep your barbecue clean, take out the trash regularly, and remove pet waste from your yard as these are common food sources for rats. You should also keep your yard well maintained and remove wood piles that can provide hiding places for rats. Check the exterior of your home for openings rats could squeeze through and seal them up. Rats can squeeze through smaller holes than you may realize, so don't ignore any that you think are too small.

Call Skedaddle for Rat Removal in Hamilton

In addition to being opportunistic, rats are also tenacious and may make homes on your property despite your efforts to deter them. When this happens, contact Skedaddle for humane removal by trained technicians.