Tips For Keeping Snakes Out Of Your Pool Area

Few things are better than having a private pool in the yard, particularly when summer starts to really heat up. When the sun is blazing down, the refreshment afforded by jumping into some freshwater cannot be beaten. However, when you discover that a snake has made its way into the pool, you may not know what to do. What is the best way to stop snakes from entering your pool? How can you get them out once they get it?

Preventing Snakes From Entering The Pool

In terms of snakes, people either seem to have somewhat of a tolerance for them, or they loathe them and want nothing to do with their presence. However, those in the latter group must realize that snakes will probably always be cohabitants in the Southwest part of the country. Texas, on its own, is home to roughly 76 separate species of snakes. While the majority of these do not happen to be poisonous, that still does not make them welcome visitors to your pool space. Unwanted and unexpected snakes can be frightening, indeed.

Why Do Snakes Like Pools?

Given the cold-blooded nature of snakes, it is not surprising that they like laying around on concrete surfaces, but that does not fully explain their attraction to backyard pools spaces. You may have created a desirable spot for snakes if:

You are not meticulous about regular lawn mowing and shrub trimming. Snakes enjoy areas where they can hide, so any sections of unkept overgrowth can be a real haven for snakes. Tall grasses are also great for attracting mice and additional sources of snake food, so the best thing to do is eliminate such zones from your yard.

If you feed your pets outdoors, it is possible to unwittingly attract snakes by leaving uncovered dishes of pet food where they can access them. Open containers of food will also attract pests, including rodents, upon which snakes prey. Therefore, if you want to have your pets eat outside, be sure to remove leftover food immediately after they are finished to avoid drawing a crowd of mice and other food sources for snakes.

Make sure that you do not have standing pools of water in the yard. Snakes require hydration, and any reservoir for standing water that is near the ground can be an excellent draw for snakes. This could include children’s toys, climbing apparatuses, and other such lawn features.

Also bear in mind that snakes will steer clear of chlorine, which is deadly to them. When a snake does wind up in a swimming pool, it is probably because it attempted to chase a food source nearby and inadvertently fell into the water.

Keeping Your Pool Free Of Snakes

The real key to preventing snakes from getting in your pool is to stop them from appearing in your surrounding yard. Always keep your grass mowed to a proper length. This probably means once a week in the springtime and early summer months, and then once every two weeks during the hottest time of the year. Be sure to trim all shrubbery in spring and clean out any underlying debris thoroughly.

When it comes to stopping snakes from entering the pool, surround itself, take a closer look at the design of your landscaping. Shrubs and bushes should be nowhere near the pool. That way, snakes will have nowhere to hide. Most snakes want nothing to do with humans, so if they have no place to conceal themselves, they are likely to keep far away from the pool your family uses.

DIY Repellants For Snakes

If you are still having difficulty with snakes despite following the advice provided above, there are some easy things you can do all on your own to prevent snakes from bothering your pool area.

Do what you can to demonstrate to snakes that humans are near. Anything you can leave near the pool that has a human scent on it — hair, clothing and the like — will keep snakes from drawing near. This is particularly true during the nighttime hours when snakes are most actively looking for food sources.

Consider spraying a bit of ammonia or white vinegar in and around your pool area. Before turning in for the night, drop a bit of liquid in the vicinity of the pool. Snakes are known for absorbing liquid directly through the skin, and they will refuse to cross over a liquid-covered surface.

Get Professional Help When Required

It can be extremely upsetting to spot a snake in your backyard pool. Always keep in mind that it is still wise to assume that any snake you encounter is poisonous until you have confirmation otherwise. Take all possible steps to prevent snakes from entering your pool area, and if it all becomes too much for you to handle, contact the professionals at Wildlife Removal Services of Florida who will do whatever it takes to keep your leisure spot snake-free.