Ducks, Raccoons and Rodents, Oh My!: Tips on How to Deal with Unwanted Critters in your Pool

Critters using your swimming pool as their own personal water hole is a common problem. Whether it be ducks, raccoons or rodents, these critters can be hard to get rid of once they have made your pool their home. But there are some ways to rid your yard of them and not bring any harm to them in the process.

Ducks can really make a mess of your swimming pool. I have a lot of first-hand experience of this in my service area. Within a few days, a perfectly balanced crystal clear pool can become a swamp with just two ducks swimming in it. The problem is waste. They are constantly excreting, and their waste is very acidic so if your pool is a brand new construction just filled, I have seen some bad stains from ducks in new pools. The waste will use up the chlorine in the pool and very quickly the water will look more like a pond than a pool.

Dogs are pretty useless in getting rid of them and they have little fear of humans. If you do get them to fly away they will return within minutes. But it is not hopeless. I have had very good success with keeping ducks out of a pool using a $12.00 Alligator Float. The ducks just don’t like the looks of it and will not go into the pool in most cases. Other pool guys also have said that Swan floats are also effective. If the floats do not work the next step up is Floating Glazing Balls or Pond Orbs. These are stainless steel balls that are 10-12” in diameter and you would simply put 4-5 of them in the pool. As they float around the ducks will soon leave, one customer said that the ducks don’t like their reflection. Whatever the reason the floating stainless steel orbs are very effective. They are a little pricey though at $30 a piece but if the floats fail the floating orbs will succeed.

Raccoons are a very big problem in my service area. For some odd reason, they like to wash their food in the pool or spa water. They will enter the first step of the pool or spa and usually will also defecate in the water. So you will wake up the next morning and see Raccoon poop on the first step of the pool. This is not only unsanitary but very annoying as it will happen night after night. The solution is unsightly but effective.

Simply lay large pieces of plywood across the step area of the pool. Make sure the steps are completely covered. The Raccoons can’t get into the pool now and soon will leave. They generally will not jump in a pool but walk in on the steps. Cover the steps in your attached spa also, or they will move from the pool to the spa. After 2 or 3 weeks they will leave and find another watering hole. You may also have some success with placing a realistic-looking plastic snake near the pool step area. I have one account that has had great success with a rubber snake also.

Raccoons also tend to bite your suction side pool cleaner hoses. Why they do this is a mystery, but I have found countless cleaner hoses with Raccoon bites in them, ruining the hoses and causing the system to suck in air. To prevent this you will have to remove the cleaner from the pool and leave it out for a few days.

Rats are a big problem for your pool and it is not just finding a dead one in your pool now and again. They chew just about any wire they can get their teeth on. They really like the warmth and safety of your pool heater. Once they get into your heater they will chew all the wires. I have seen them destroy a control board, temp sensor, and other vital parts. To prevent rats from entering use metal screens around any opening larger than a coin the size of a quarter. Traps with peanut butter in them work very well also. It is not much you can do to keep them out of your yard, but keeping them out of your heater is essential.


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