How to Keep Frogs Out of Your Pool: A Pool Owner's Safety Guide
Swimming in a pool with frogs might not be the safest idea. These amphibians often carry salmonella and other dangerous bacteria that could make you sick. Your backyard oasis naturally attracts these unwanted visitors, particularly when the weather turns warm and wet.
Frogs consider your swimming pool a perfect home. The fresh water supply attracts them, along with plenty of mosquitoes, flies, and worms nearby. The situation becomes more challenging when frogs start laying thousands of eggs. Your relaxed swimming spot can quickly transform into a frog breeding ground. On top of that, these small creatures struggle to escape once they fall into pools. This creates safety risks and maintenance challenges for pool owners.
This piece covers practical ways to keep frogs away from your pool. You'll learn what steps to take when you spot a frog and understand how pool water affects these amphibians. The truth about chlorinated water might surprise you - it can be toxic to frogs. These solutions will help you maintain a clean, frog-free pool for everyone to enjoy.
Why Frogs End Up in Your Pool
You'll solve the frog invasion problem in your swimming pool better if you understand why they come there in the first place. These amphibians aren't trying to ruin your swim time—they just follow their natural instincts.
Your pool looks like a perfect frog habitat. Frogs can't tell the difference between a chlorinated swimming pool and a natural pond. They only see what appears to be an ideal water source, especially when natural water becomes scarce during dry spells.
Frogs searching for breeding grounds find your pool's calm, still water irresistible. They naturally look for quiet, undisturbed water to mate and lay eggs. Your pool also gives them a safe space without predators—no snakes, birds, or other threats that usually keep frog numbers under control.
The way you set up your pool at night might create the perfect frog magnet. Here's what attracts them:
- The water becomes still and more appealing to frogs when your pool pump stops at night
- Pool lights draw insects that serve as a buffet for hungry frogs
- Frogs become most active after dark, which makes nighttime their favorite time to visit
Your pool's surroundings play a big role too. Frogs love to hide in tall grass, leaf piles, and thick vegetation during the day to stay cool. Your pool area becomes a frog paradise if it has these features.
A frog's biology affects their attraction to your pool. They take in water through a special patch on their belly, which makes any water source tempting for hydration. These ectothermic creatures also need warmth, particularly on cool nights, so your heated pool or warm deck surfaces become extra inviting.
The sad part is that pools harm frogs despite attracting them. Frogs often get trapped inside and swept into filtration systems, which hurts both the animals and your equipment.
Best Ways to Keep Frogs Away
You'll find it much easier to stop frogs from getting into your swimming pool than to deal with them once they're there. I've tested several ways to keep them away and found four strategies that work without causing any harm to these amphibians.
Install a pool cover or barrier fence
A physical barrier serves as the quickest way to keep frogs out. Your pool needs a properly fitted cover that acts as a shield against frogs, insects, and debris. Make sure the cover fits tightly with no gaps around the edges.
A specialized fence offers permanent protection. But not all fences do the job equally well - standard iron link fencing only slows frogs down. The best choice would be solid wood or vinyl fencing that creates a resilient barrier.
Turn off pool lights at night
Pool lights at night create what you might call a "frog buffet" by drawing in insects that frogs love to eat. These nocturnal creatures stay away when you switch off pool lights after dark. Motion-activated lights work well as an alternative if you need visibility.
Use water features to keep water moving
Frogs love still water, especially to lay their eggs. Your pool becomes less attractive when the water stays in motion. Run your pool pump during evening hours to break up the calm surface frogs want. You could also add bubblers, fountains, or waterfalls that create constant movement and naturally keep frogs away.
Keep your backyard trimmed and clean
Frogs need places to hide during the day, so a tidy yard gives them fewer options for shelter. Here's what you should do:
- Keep grass short and trim plants near the pool
- Clean up leaves and remove thick vegetation around the edges
- Fill any holes and get rid of weed patches
- Cover drain pipes or gaps where frogs might hide
These preventative steps will create a space that frogs naturally avoid, and you won't need harmful chemicals or cruel methods to keep them away.
How to Get Rid of Frogs in Pool Safely
Even with the best prevention methods, frogs might still end up in your swimming pool. The good news is you can safely remove these amphibians without harming them or yourself.
Use a net to remove frogs, tadpoles, and eggs
A fine mesh net gives you the quickest way to remove frogs. This tool helps you catch them gently without causing any injury. Here's how to do it properly:
- Gently skim the water surface to collect adult frogs
- Make slow, steady movements so you don't startle them
- Look for tadpoles and eggs that show up as small black dots throughout the pool
You'll need a tight-knit net that won't let smaller tadpoles slip through the mesh.
Transfer frogs to a safe natural habitat
The safe relocation of captured frogs is vital:
Fill a bucket halfway with fresh water - not pool water, since chlorine can harm amphibians. Take the frogs to a nearby wetland or pond with plenty of vegetation and insects for food. Let them go on land near the water's edge instead of directly in the water. This lets them make their way to the water on their own.
Provide escape options for trapped frogs
For long-term protection, consider adding simple escape ramps or floating platforms that help frogs and other small creatures climb out of the pool safely. These devices prevent animals from getting stuck in the water or your filtration system and reduce maintenance issues for pool owners. Position them near skimmers or pool edges where frogs are most likely to become trapped.
What to do if there is a frog in your pool
Quick action helps:
Use a pool skimmer or bucket to scoop up the frog gently. Don't touch frogs with bare hands since some species have skin toxins. Switch off your pool pump for a while to stop frogs from getting pulled into the filtration system.
Chlorinated water can harm frogs because their permeable skin lets chemicals enter their bloodstream. Swift removal helps both your pool maintenance and keeps the amphibians safe.
Once you’ve safely removed frogs, tadpoles, and eggs from the pool, the job isn’t done yet. It’s important to thoroughly clean and rebalance your water to ensure a healthy swimming environment. Skim the surface, shock the pool if needed, and check your chemical levels to restore balance. For ongoing convenience, a robotic pool cleaner can handle debris and fine particles that frogs leave behind, keeping the water clear and reducing the effort required for maintenance.
Long-Term Pool Maintenance Tips
Regular pool care boosts your swimming experience and naturally keeps frogs away. A consistent maintenance schedule is the lifeblood of keeping frogs away in the long run.
Make weekly water testing a must in your pool routine. You need to check and adjust pH, chlorine, and alkalinity levels for proper water balance. Your pool becomes less welcoming to frogs while staying safe for swimmers.
Daily skimming of the water surface removes bugs, leaves, and debris that attract frogs. You should empty skimmer baskets often to stop frogs from breeding. Your pool needs weekly shock treatment to break down organic waste that could attract unwanted wildlife.
Chemical treatment isn't enough - mechanical maintenance plays a key role. Check your equipment weekly by inspecting pump baskets and filter pressure to catch problems early. Clean filters often since dirty ones can trap frog eggs.
Run your pump at night during swimming season when frogs are most active to keep water moving. On top of that, it helps to keep the pool water from deterring frogs, but note that this makes chlorine disappear faster.
Stock up on supplies before peak season hits - chlorine, pH balancers, and spare parts like skimmer baskets and O-rings.
This detailed maintenance approach ended up not just preventing frogs but extending your pool's life, which creates a cleaner and safer swimming environment for everyone.
Conclusion
Keeping your pool frog-free requires both prevention and consistent upkeep. Covers, trimmed vegetation, moving water at night, and turning off pool lights all reduce the chances of frogs settling in.
If they do appear, remove them safely and clean the pool to restore balance. Combined with smart tools, these steps keep your swimming space safe and enjoyable.
Looking for smarter ways to simplify pool care? Explore Aiper’s range of robotic pool cleaners and pool care tips to make maintenance easier and keep your swimming space safe, clean, and frog-free.