In Celebration of Be Kind to Animals Week - How to be a Gracious Host for the Animals, Part 2 of 3

In today’s show, we’ll explore things that can be done to make backyard pools safer for the wildlife that may come to visit and also for the animals already living there. To help prevent animals from falling into the pool in the first place, it’s a great idea to keep any surrounding trees neatly trimmed back so that they don’t hang over the water itself. It’s also a good idea to have a fence around a pool so that only human and furry family members can have supervised time in the water. If any garbage bins are left beside the pool, it’s also best that they have a snap-lock cover that can’t be easily opened if they tip over. I also invite you to leave drinking water out for animal visitors.

If animals do fall into the water, there are some nifty things that can help to save their lives. One product is called Critter Clear, and another one is called FrogLog. These devices sit at the edge of the pool and provide a mesh climber that animals can use to escape from the water. So, you might be wondering, what can be done if an animal is found in the water? For small animals such as mice, birds, and frogs, you can help them by gently scooping them out of the pool with a pool skimmer. If a pool skimmer isn’t available, then something else may be used, such as a mop or a broom. Items that might be used to help larger animals out of the water can include partially deflated float toys and beds. A pool chair might allow an animal to climb on board and then exit the pool. If the animal isn’t recovering, then please phone your local wildlife group, or you can take the animal to a vet if practical.