Pool and water safety for wildlife

Summer has us flocking to backyard swimming pools to cool down and beat the heat. We are not the only ones drawn to pools to cool down — bodies of water are also attractive to wild animals. Unfortunately, pools can be dangerous to wildlife, particularly small animals, when they find themselves stuck with no way out and can drown due to exhaustion.

Depending on where you live, wild animals such as skunks, mice, bats, raccoons, lizards, frogs, snakes, waterfowl and fledgling birds can find themselves trapped when the high and slippery sides of pools prevent escape. Wild babies may be at an even higher risk as they are small and have not developed the skills to avoid falling in or getting themselves out.

Learn how to prevent accidents from happening to keep wild animals safe and avoid tragedies.

Mother duck and ducklings in pool with high, slippery sides

Pool safety

A few simple changes can help reduce the risk to wild animals around your backyard pool:

If you are installing a new pool, consider building animal safety ledges – these are ledges just below the water’s surface along the edge of the pool that can make it easier for animals to climb out.
Check your pool often and empty skimmers twice a day. By regularly checking skimmers, you are much more likely to discover and save the lives of animals that may be caught.
Turn off skimmers or filter systems during the night. Many wild animals are more active at night and likely to end up in your pool while no-one is monitoring. Turning off skimmers prevents animals from getting caught in currents, giving them a better chance to escape.
Install water-exit devices attached to the pool edge or ground outside the pool to allow animals to get out on their own. The more escape options available, the better the chance an animal successfully uses them! Examples include:
- - Ramps or other buoyant devices that float on water and are attached to the side
  - Knotted nylon ropes along the sides and secured to the pool edge — make sure knots are at the water’s surface! (This technique only works for climbing animals such as raccoons, mice and squirrels).
  - FrogLog
Install a pool alarm that can be activated by motion when you are not using your pool. This may help to alert you to an animal in trouble and allow you to respond quickly.
Install fencing around your pool. Preventing access is the most effective way to prevent accidental drownings. Bury the fence in the ground to prevent animals from burrowing underneath. If animals are able to access the pool, a tarp or mesh covering may be ineffective as animals can become trapped underneath. Animals may also get claws trapped in mesh and become entangled.
Stay on top of the landscaping. Keep flowers and attractive-to-wildlife plants away from the pool to prevent pollinators and animals from getting too close. Consider establishing a wildlife-friendly garden in spaces far away from pools and don’t forget to cut branches hanging over the pool to prevent small animals from falling out of trees and into the pool!

Still have frequent pool visitors? Wild animals may come back to your pool to look for a drink or for habitat where it may otherwise be scarce. Consider building a natural area in your yard with a water source that is wildlife-friendly and safe for use. This may also prevent wildlife from consuming pool water containing chemicals that may have adverse effects.

Safety for other water sources

Other sources of water around our homes and on our properties can also pose risks for wild animals if not properly maintained. Bird baths and water dishes left out for wild animals must be cleaned regularly to prevent the risk of spreading disease. Use shallow dishes and place rocks or small objects at the bottom of the dish for insects and small animals to perch on or use to climb out if they become trapped inside.

Have buckets of water or open rain barrels laying around? Cover them or place a ramp with some grip inside so animals can escape. Small steps like this can have a big impact! For example, this bat was found struggling in a tub of water that was left in a backyard.

Unfortunately, by the time this bat was found and taken to a wildlife rehabilitator for care, it was too late. You can make a meaningful difference for wild animals by being mindful of the water sources around your home.

In case of emergency

If an animal has fallen into your pool and needs emergency rescue, don’t panic! Smaller animals like birds, frogs, rodents and bats can be scooped out of the water with a net or pool skimmer. If you don’t have one available, you can also try the bristled end of a broom.

If a larger animal like a skunk or raccoon falls in, try to use any available material like a plank that has some grip or partially deflated float to create a ramp that can be weighed down or tied to the edge. Give the animal space to use the ramp you’ve created to get themselves out.

Contact your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice if any animal is showing signs of injury or exhaustion.