We’ve all heard the stories (or have some of our own to tell). Some helpless critter couldn’t tell the difference between your chemically treated pool, and a natural body of water. Frogs, mice, lizards, snakes, squirrels…I’ve even heard of turkeys and black bears ending up in pools before! Maybe they were thirsty, maybe they were curious, maybe they fell in accidentally. Whatever the cause or reason, one thing is certain: They just don’t belong in your pool.

For one thing, its just not safe for them. Our pools expose them to chemicals that little (and big) wild animals just aren’t meant to interact with. And should a smaller animal like a frog or mouse fall in, they are too little to be able to reach from the water to the edge of your pool and pull themselves out again. Typically, these little guys will swim around for hours looking for a way out, until they become so exhausted that they get pulled into the skimmer and drown. What seems like low suction to us is a strong current for them, and they cannot withstand it.

For another thing, it’s just not safe for you and your loved ones. Frogs and similar slimy guys can carry salmonella and other kinds of bacteria. Furry critters can have dangerous microorganisms on them as well. And that’s not even factoring in Stuart Little having a little accident while he swims in circles trying to find a mouse sized ladder to climb out of your pool. To take it one thought further, should an animal expire in your pool or skimmer, their body is now an ideal breeding ground for countless nasty microorganisms.

Devices like the FrogLog, The Scamper Ramp, and the Critter Skimmer can help provide a way out of your pool or spa once the animal has fallen in. Thoughtfulness begins at home folks, and we have a responsibility to care for the weak and small.

“But Jan,” you say, “How can I keep them from falling in in the first place?”

An excellent question!

As I mentioned before, animals cannot tell the difference between a naturally occurring body of water and your man-made backyard beauty. They have no way of knowing that their claws could rip your vinyl liner (I’m thinking about that black bear incident of 2019) or that your chlorine could be toxic to them. I would say, as a general bit of advice, to make your pool as distinctly “un-natural” as possible.

Let’s break that down.

I would start by keeping your trees trimmed, and minimizing the amount of shrubbery you have around the pool’s perimeter. This will discourage animals from making their new home in your backyard. They will also be less likely to enter a large open space (i.e. the pool area) if there are fewer places for them to hide from predators. To take this a step further, consider removing food sources from your yard as well. For rodents and birds (that turkey debacle from last summer pops to mind) move your bird feeders, and limit or remove fruit shrubs. If you are like my family and love your summer garden, consider moving it to the side yard, or a part of the property away from the pool area. Do not let standing water accumulate in your lawn furniture, planters, or other back yard accessories, as this can often become a breeding ground for mosquitos and other bugs. Practice safe and responsible trash removal. Our garbage attracts rodents and flies, and flies, mosquitos, bugs, and even rodents will attract frogs and birds.

“Jan, you mentioned not allowing standing water to accumulate…isn’t the pool a big, well, pool of water?”

Ah, very glad you asked. Mosquito and frog mamas alike will avoid laying their eggs (for their millions of babies) in your pool when you keep that water circulating, those jets bubbling, and those fountains flowing. Your pool should be anything but stagnant. I would also recommend that at night you turn off the pool lights. I know it looks so pretty! Alright, keep the lights on until you turn in for the night. Animals are attracted to the lights, so turning those off will help. But keep the water in motion-jets, fountains, pumps, and if you have it, nighttime is the perfect time to run your robotic cleaner. If I were a hoppy little frog and I came to the edge of your pool and saw a huge, unfamiliar thing patrolling the bottom of the pool, I’d think twice about jumping right in.

Invest in a well-fitted cover. Electric pool covers are ideal for this, as they are custom designed and installed to prevent children, adults, and animals alike from landing in your pool when the pool is not intended to be in use. But even if you don’t opt for an electric cover, a well-fitted solar cover can help reduce the number of small four-legged critters who do get in.

A fun solution is to invest in pool floats that look scary to little frogs. Again, if I were hip-hopping along and came to a dreamy back yard pool and was about to stick one of my slimy toes in to test the water before diving in, the sight of an inflatable alligator or cat would be enough to send me hop-hipping away! No thank you! Of course, 99% of pool floats are not designed or intended to be in the water 24/7, so if you go this route, you may very well end up replacing your inflatable predator more often than usual.

If you’re looking for another kind of barrier that won’t change the look and layout of your yard, consider an herb garden full of peppermint or basil. Some creepy crawlies don’t like the scent of these stronger plants. Other options that tend to be more “natural” include spraying diluted vinegar around the perimeter of your pool area. Similarly, you can use lemon juice! Anything that’s kind of acidic will tell the frogs and mice to avoid the area.

And that’s it! Will each of these tips 100% frog-proof your pool? Probably not. But a combination of your favorites can certainly minimize the number of frogs you find in your skimmer and increase your enjoyment this summer!