As a pool owner, you may have already discovered frogs in your pool at some point. Getting rid of them can be annoying and time-consuming! Knowing how to keep frogs out of your pool can come in handy to prevent having to get rid of them. Though frogs are ultimately harmless, having them gather in your pool can cause future issues.
In this article, I will go over why you should keep frogs out of your pool before diving into the dos and don’ts of keeping them out.
Main Takeaways
- You should keep frogs out of your pool due to sanitary reasons, frogs may die in your pool, and they can lay eggs in your water.
- To keep frogs out of your pool, keep your water moving, turn your pool lights off, keep your pool clean, make a homemade frog repellent, use a pool cover, give the frogs an escape, and mow your lawn frequently.
- Do not use pesticides, scarecrows, or inhumane methods to keep frogs out of your pool.
Why is it Important to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool?
There are a few good reasons why you will want to keep frogs out of your pool. Frogs do not cause harm when they are simply in your yard, but once they enter your pool, some problems may arise.
Understanding these problems and how they may occur is important to help prevent them.
Sanitation
If you’ve ever handled a frog as a child, you were most likely told to wash your hands afterward immediately. This is because frogs have the potential to carry certain bacteria and diseases, such as salmonella.
If your pool’s chemicals are correctly taken care of, then your pool’s sanitizer will most likely kill off any harmful bacteria frogs may be carrying. However, especially in 2020, it is best to avoid taking any risks with sanitation.
Frogs May Die in Your Pool
Unfortunately, frogs might not make it out when they enter your pool. If your pool is large or has high walls, frogs may not be able to climb out of the water once they have gotten in.
Even if your pool is relatively small, frogs won’t always know how to escape. Once they have entered your pool, they can wear themselves out by swimming for too long and eventually drown.
As unpleasant as it is to have a small creature pass away in your pool, it can be even more unpleasant to have to remove them. This is especially true if you are squeamish or are not a big fan of frogs.
What may be even worse is having young kids accidentally stumble upon a dead frog on a pool day.
Frogs Can Lay Eggs in Your Pool Water
One of the biggest reasons you will want to avoid having frogs in your pool is that they are prone to laying eggs in bodies of water.
Frogs can lay more than 10,000 eggs at a time, depending on the species. When these eggs hatch, tadpoles emerge and grow into frogs. Having 10,000 frogs in your pool at once can be an unwanted experience, so it is best to remove any eggs once you notice them.
Frog eggs often look like clusters of black dots sitting at the bottom of the pool. You can remove them by scooping them out with a bowl or a net and relocating them in another body of water. This body of water can be a pond or simply a tub of water. Either way, you will want to ensure that all the eggs are outside.
Why Do Frogs Like Pools?
Frogs are drawn to anything that reminds them of a pond. Though your swimming pool is meant for humans only, frogs won’t be able to tell the difference between the two.
Frogs may be drawn to your pool if hungry, as insects can collect in your pool throughout the day if left uncovered. Frogs may also be looking for a place to lay their eggs and need a body of water.
Strategies for Keeping Frogs Out of Your Pool
If you have been having issues with finding frogs in your pool, you’re in luck. There are a lot of ways that you can prevent frogs from getting into your pool.
Keep Your Water Moving
Frogs are attracted to still bodies of water. If you have any features in your pool that allow the pool water to be constantly moving (like a pool fountain), utilizing these features can keep frogs away.
Keeping your water moving can also prevent frogs from laying eggs, as they are less likely to lay their eggs in water unsafe for their future tadpoles. Plus, good water circulation is healthy for your pool anyways.
Turn Your Pool Lights Off
If you are someone whose pool has lights, avoid keeping them on any longer than necessary. Lights can give away your pool’s location to the frogs looking for their next meal.
Likewise, pool lights can also attract bugs. The more bugs in your pool, the more frogs are likely to come. Turn your lights off after using them, and keep them off overnight to avoid frogs and bugs.
Keep Your Pool Clean
This is perhaps the easiest thing to do, as it is most likely something you do already with your regular pool maintenance tasks.
Cleaning your pool frequently is an excellent way to scour for any rogue frogs or eggs that may have been laid. Frogs are also drawn to insects, so keeping your pool free of any bugs means that frogs are less likely to go hunting in your pool.
Make a Homemade Frog Repellent
If you are looking for a way to repel frogs without using any harmful chemicals, consider making a homemade frog repellent. This can be done easily by filling a spray bottle with vinegar and spraying the perimeter of your pool with vinegar. You can also use coffee grounds. Dust a layer of coffee grounds around your pool to help keep away frogs.
Both vinegar and coffee grounds irritate frogs’ skin. While you can also use bleach or citric acid, both methods can cause permanent harm to frogs if used incorrectly. Vinegar and coffee grounds simply irritate the frogs, and frogs will avoid them just as well.
Use a Pool Cover
Getting a pool cover is beneficial for many reasons. Pool covers act as a barrier between your pool water and any outside contamination that may fall into your pool. Using a pool cover can prevent frogs from finding and getting into your pool, as well as bugs and dirt. Frogs also don’t like warmer water, so you can get a solar pool cover to help heat your pool.
Give the Frogs an Escape
The leading cause of frogs dying in pools is due to them being (or feeling) trapped in the water. Frogs will often get out of the pool on their own if they can climb out. There are products that you can buy that cater to this method specifically.
You can also use any object that you see fit, as long as it is sanitary and long enough to help the frogs out of your pool. Some people use swim toys, such as pool noodles, as ramps for frogs to escape.
Here's a simple ramp you can install in your pool to help frogs escape.
Mow Your Lawn Frequently
Tallgrass can attract frogs, as they like to hide and rest in overgrown grass and weeds. Mowing your lawn frequently can help prevent frogs from appearing in your yard in the first place.
As well as mowing your lawn, keeping up with the weeds and general care of your yard can help deter frogs. However, it is not necessarily harmful to have frogs in your yard as long as they are not in your pool. Frogs can help control garden pests, as they are avid hunters of insects.
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The Wrong Strategies for Keeping Frogs Out of Your Pool (What to Avoid Doing)
While there are many great ways to prevent frogs from taking a dip in your pool, a few methods should be avoided.
Using Pesticides
Using pesticides in your yard can end up being useless. Not only do pesticides not work in keeping frogs away, but they can cause damage to your plants.
Try to stay clear of using harsh chemicals to keep frogs at bay. Multiple substances can be used that are much gentler on the environment.
Scarecrows
Some people have attempted to use items such as rubber snakes and fake birds as a way to scare off frogs, similar to using a scarecrow. While this method is harmless, it is also pretty ineffective.
While frogs have a hard time telling the difference between a pond and a pool, they are more likely to be able to tell the difference between a living creature and a fake one. If frogs sense that they are in no real danger, they will not be deterred from making their way into your pool.
Inhumane Methods
While frogs may not be your cup of tea, it is highly recommended that you avoid treating frogs inhumanely.
Certain species of frogs and toads are endangered and may be protected by your state. Killing endangered frogs can contribute to their extinction and even get you into legal trouble.
Even if the frogs are not endangered, they have only pure intentions and do not mean bringing the issues you may experience. It is best to find one of the alternative methods for removing and preventing frogs. There are many useful and humane methods.
Final Thoughts
Many of the methods listed above are easy, inexpensive, and humane. Overall, frogs are gentle creatures and can help keep your garden and yard free from pests. Remember to treat them gently while removing them from your pool!
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