Pool Duck Problems

Why You Need to Keep Ducks Out of Your Pool

The presence of wildlife in your pool, including birds, increase the risk of germs and disease such as Crypto, E.coli, Salmonella.  Most types of bacteria die when they come into contact with chlorine— but, chlorine residuals can be depleted by the presence of ducks thus putting your swimmers at risk. It may seem cute to some to have ducks in their pool but we recommend prevention and quick action to deter ducks from swimming in your pool.   (The below 7 ideas may help you deter ducks from using your pool)

• Ducks will increase the contaminants in your pool such as nitrates and phosphates, ducks and other birds can also cause increased demand on chemicals and contribute to the creation of chloramines, eye burn, cloudy water & algae. (see pictures below)

• Once these animals take up residence, it will be hard to get them to leave. They will defecate in the water and on the pool deck. (see pictures below)

• We recommend using pest/wildlife removal professional services in your area.  If none are available you could consider the Top 7 Ideas from swimming pool service professionals below.

TOP 8 Ideas From Pool Service Professionals 

1. Nest Removal 

Look for a nest with eggs in nearby bushes, ivy or other ground cover. Remove the nest material and eggs. In most cases, this 1st tip is enough to discourage the nesting pair and they will leave. It is not illegal to remove the nest or scare off the parents. It could be illegal to harm them, and once they hatch, you will have more emotional difficulty dealing with the situation.

2. Floating Animal Pool Toys or Baloon Eye Balls

Wild ducks do not like predator-infested waters. Keep certain inflatable animal pool toys—alligators, killer whales, snakes, and dolphins—in the pool when you're not using them to scare off ducks. However, this method does not always work. Once the ducks learn that the floating thing is not really a threat, they will come right back. Baloon Eye Balls: These balloons float in the water and are designed to look like large eyes. Wild ducks usually hate those eyes as they represent a predator's eye on the watch. This might just do the trick and add some ornament to your pool. You can either buy them or make your own.

3. Use of a Cover

Solar covers are usually used to prevent water evaporation and trap solar radiation, which increases the water temperature by up to 15 degrees. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that best fits your pool.  Using a solar cover will not only make your pool warmer and prevent leaves and debris from falling into it, but it is also a great way to prevent wild ducks from swimming in the water and pooping in it.

4. Fishing Line or Bird Netting

Fishing Line:  that is crisscrossed can act like an invisible roof on top of your pool and may prevent the ducks from landing. It serves as a barrier that can be invisible to the ducks. Once they hit the lines, they will never do it again. Bird Netting: The principle is the same as the fishing line. You can use a net to act like a roof and cover up your pool. Not only will it prevent the ducks from landing easily, but it will also add another protection from falling leaves. This is great if you have a large tree next to your pool. These nets are fairly inexpensive and can be found at your local hardware store or garden center.

5. Duck Off / Surface Tention Chemicals

Though using unwanted chemicals may seem a bit discouraging, Duck Off is actually safe to use and works. It is a product by the Lo-Chlor company that breaks the surface tension of the water, making it uncomfortable for ducks to swim. For those of you who don't want to put extra chemicals into your pool, use this as a last resort.

6. Use a Motion-Activated Sprinkler

These sprinklers will spray water once they sense motion around them. This is a great way to scare off the birds since the sudden spray of water will catch them off guard.

7. Use an Ultrasonic Pest Repellent

If you're dealing with other creatures besides ducks, it might be worth it to buy an electric pest repellent. These machines emit high-frequency sounds that humans can't hear or natural habitat predator sounds but that are highly irritating or discouraging to birds. The sound effect is harmless to wildlife and simply works to shock the animal into flight so it doesn't get too comfortable. Other electronic devices will reproduce the sounds of predators that can also detur ducks. 

8.  Plastic Owls or WirlyBird Spinners

Since owls are a natural predator of ducks, set a few plastic decoys up around the pool to scare them off. For this to effectively work, though, it's best to invest in a decoy that hoots and makes simple physical movements like head turns.