There’s nothing quite like taking a refreshing dip in your pool on a warm summer day. The sparkling water, the cool embrace, and the relaxation it offers are unmatched.
However, for some pool owners, there is an unexpected and unwelcome guest that occasionally makes an appearance—the frog. You might be wondering, what keeps frogs away from pools?
Spraying vinegar or citric acid around your pool will quickly prevent frogs from jumping into the pool. You can also Sprinkle salt around the pool to deter frogs.
While these amphibians may be fascinating creatures, their presence in your pool can be a nuisance, not to mention the potential harm they can cause to you and them.
If you’ve ever encountered frogs in your pool or want to take preventive measures to keep them out, you’ve come to the right place. This blog post explores effective and humane ways to maintain a frog-free oasis in your backyard.
How to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool?
The pool parties you wanted were always hopping’—but not like this. There’s no good news for you or the frog when your swimming pool is mistaken for a pond.
Even worse, they can drown in your swimming pool, signaling the beginning of a morning swim that is unfortunate for them and you.
In any case, frogs aren’t welcome in pools, regardless of whether they fascinate you or make you jump. Here are some of the best ways to keep frogs out of your pool permanently.
1. Install A Fence
Building a fence around your pool will prevent frogs from entering your pool at all.
You should ensure your fence is made from solid materials and high enough to prevent frogs from jumping over it. Consult your local fence installation contractor about your options.
2. Use A Frog Log
Due to the high sides of many pools, frogs cannot physically jump out once they jump in.
It’s easy to install with a frog log, which can be purchased from retailers for $10 to $20. They’re lily pads with a ramp attached, ensuring frogs can escape safely from swimming pools.
3. Keep Your Pool Heated
In general, frogs prefer cold water over warm water since cold water is higher in oxygen. Since frogs absorb oxygen through their skin, they tend to seek out colder, more heavily oxygenated waters.
A solar pool cover costs $800 to $1,000, and a pool heater costs an average of $2,900. A pool heater can discourage them from coming to your pool. It is a nice bonus to have warmer water for swimming.
4. Use a Pool Cover
An effective way to keep out small animals and frogs is to use a pool cover. It is a good practice for general pool maintenance but also extremely effective for frogs.
Swimmers will even have less chance of being bitten by insects, so they won’t have to worry about getting bitten by dead frogs and creepy crawlies.
5. Skim Frog Eggs ASAP
If frogs lay eggs in water, you may find one of their gelatinous egg clusters floating around your pool. If you see frog eggs, collect them with your pool skimmer immediately. You should relocate them to a nearby pond or wetland.
6. Keep Your Yard Clear and Trimmed
Frogs are nocturnal, which means they’ll be on the lookout for hiding places during the daylight hours. You’re more likely to have fewer visitors at night if you keep your grass trimmed and your lawn free of weeds, debris, and other hiding spots.
7. Maintain a Clean Pool
Cleaning your pool not only keeps you healthy but also keeps frogs away. Frogs are more likely to mistake your pool for a pond if your pool contains algae, leaves, and other debris.
Additionally, live frogs may carry bacteria and other icky stuff that may pollute your pool water without being treated with the right chemicals.
Keep your pool chemical balance and regularly skim to avoid the open invite. Keeping your pool clean is easiest when you hire a pool cleaning company.
8. Use A Frog Repellent
Acidic substances cause a burning sensation on frogs’ feet, which they dislike strongly. Using vinegar or citric acid around your pool will get them to move quickly if you sprinkle salt around it or spray vinegar around it.
Be sure to keep kids and pets away from treated areas. Neither spray directly on the frog’s body nor use ammonia or other toxic chemicals, as these can kill it.
Be aware that they are also likely to harm or kill your plants, so be cautious about where you place them.
You can also surround your pool area with coffee grounds if you want an additional buffer. Plants are another reason to be cautious when placing the grounds around them.
In general, plants that like acid soil, such as hydrangeas, daffodils, and azaleas, are a safe choice; however, it’s wise to get your soil tested by a local soil testing service before planting.
9. Put A Pond In Your Backyard
Even though you might find the croaks from froggy festivities annoying, they are beneficial. Insects will feast all night in your yard, dispersing pesky flies.
What about that swimming pool you maintain so meticulously? The ideal place for amphibians is not here.
A suitable alternative habitat should be considered rather than banning them forever. If you’ve always thought about it, you have every reason to start building a backyard pond.
Furthermore, natural water features have the added benefit of creating pollinator habitats, which will attract beneficial insects like dragonflies who eat pests.
10. Turn On The Pool Pump Or Add A Water Feature
Frogs seek out still bodies of water to relax and hunt for insects. It is unlikely that they will enjoy swimming in your pool if it is in motion. It is advisable to install a pool pump so that the water can move around.
If you have a backyard pool, an outdoor water feature, such as a waterfall or fountain, could be added to it. Find out what you need from a water feature company in your area.
11. Turn Off The Pool Lights
A good strategy for keeping frogs out of the pool is to remove as much of their food source as possible.
The pool lights will attract bugs at night, creating a froggy feast area. The best thing to do at night is to turn off the lights to prevent them from attacking you.
Can Frogs in the Pool Be Harmful?
There are so many benefits to having frogs around your garden; they eat all kinds of pests, including mosquitoes, which allows your plants to thrive and food to be available for the local fauna.
Unlike frogs in pools, however, they do not make good neighbors. The New York State Department of Health warns that you should not bathe in chlorinated pool water when frogs are present because they can carry bacteria, such as salmonella.
There is also the possibility that frogs will lay eggs in your pool. Upon emergence from these eggs, tadpoles can disrupt your pool’s chemical composition by blocking much-needed sunlight.
A lack of chemicals can then result in algae growth in your pool, which can cause human and pet health issues.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, blue-green algae can cause skin rashes, liver problems, issues with the GI system, vomiting, paralysis, and even death in dogs.
The green paint you see floating in your pool’s water may also look blue, red, or brown. Contact a nearby pool company immediately to restore your pool to safe swimming conditions.
If family members or pets have been exposed to blue-green algae, contact a physician or veterinarian immediately. If you suspect someone has consumed algae water, seek medical attention immediately.
Why Are Frogs Attracted to Pools?
The perfect habitat for frogs can be found in pools. As well as providing a fresh water supply (which is necessary for frog survival), pools typically attract insects that frogs love.
- Ants
- Spiders
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
- Crickets
- Worms
- Slugs
- Flies (fruit flies and dragonflies)
- Snails
- Mosquitoes
- Moths
Besides providing shelter for frogs, pools give them a cool place to hide from birds and other large predators. Also, frogs tend to lay their eggs in quiet, calm places, so they can lay thousands of eggs when they breed.
How To Remove Frogs From Pools?
You probably don’t want frogs to be paddling around your pool, despite how cute they look. You can follow these steps if you want to remove frogs from pools without harming them.
Grab A Tight-Knit Net
Long sleeves and gloves are a must. Choosing an effective net requires tight knitting or holes that are so small that frogs’ legs cannot be caught.
Skim Frogs, Eggs, And Tadpoles Gently
Scoop out all frogs and frog eggs from your pool with your tight-knit net. You will need to place them in fresh water in a bucket.
Locate Nearby Freshwater Sources
A natural freshwater source near your home is necessary if the frogs don’t come from a pond in your yard.
Remember that frogs love ponds with algae, weeds, and insects in them. You can locate nearby freshwater sources with your mobile phone’s maps app.
Fill a Bucket With Fresh-Sourced Water
When you’ve found the freshwater source, fill a bucket halfway with the water from the pond. It is crucial that frogs drink fresh, chlorine-free water for survival, or else they can become dehydrated.
Do Frogs Lay Eggs In Swimming Pools?
Providing a protected, calm, and safe climate is necessary for frogs to lay eggs. Your pool pump or water feature must continuously flow water so that frogs will not lay eggs in your pool.
What Is The Best Frog Repellent?
You can make a DIY frog repellent if you have salt, citric acid, or vinegar at home. Make your pool more resistant to frogs by spraying repellant around it.
What Should You Do If You Find Frogs In Your Pool?
Get frogs out of your pool if you find them in there. Ideally, you should make a ramp for the frog to jump off of or use a tight-knit net to remove them.
Does Chlorine Kill Frogs?
As frogs require fresh water to survive, exposure to swimming pool chemicals can result in their death. When frogs are exposed to chlorine, they become dehydrated, which can eventually result in death.
Once you spot frogs in your pool, safely remove them from the pool and install a frog log where they can hop out easily.
The Bottom Line
Frogs and toads are amphibious creatures and are naturally attracted to water. They actually need water to keep themselves alive by maintaining moisture levels in their skin.
Natural instincts tell frogs that where there is water, there is most likely food in the form of insects. A nice big backyard pool is very attractive to frogs, except it doesn’t attract them because it’s too clean.
Their favorite place is stagnant water with many grasses, weeds, and insects such as moths, mosquitoes & flies.
Do you keep your pool light on at night? There is a chance that insects will attract the frogs to your pool if you attract insects to it.
