The presence of tree frogs in backyard swimming pools is common, especially during warmer seasons. These small amphibians often seek refuge in residential pools, causing concerns about water quality, filtration system clogs, and the welfare of the animals. Finding a solution requires understanding the biological drivers that attract tree frogs to the water. This article explores effective, practical, and humane strategies pool owners can implement to prevent tree frogs from using a swimming pool as their habitat. The focus is on physical barriers, environmental changes, and proper sanitation practices to maintain a frog-free swimming environment.
Why Tree Frogs Choose Your Pool
Tree frogs, like all amphibians, must maintain moisture levels through their highly permeable skin to survive. Any accessible water source is highly desirable, especially in dry conditions. A backyard pool represents a large, readily available volume of still water for hydration and potential breeding. Since the smooth, vertical walls of a pool are unnatural, frogs often enter the water but cannot climb out, leading to exhaustion and drowning.
The primary attraction for tree frogs is often the abundant food source that congregates around the pool area at night. Nocturnal insects, such as moths and beetles, are drawn to pool lights and the reflective surface of the water. Since tree frogs are primarily insectivores, the pool effectively becomes a centralized, well-lit buffet.
This concentration of prey transforms the pool from a simple water source into a prime hunting ground. If the pool pump is not run consistently overnight, the resulting still water creates a calm environment. Frogs may instinctively mistake this quiet surface for a natural pond, increasing the likelihood they will attempt to lay eggs or take up nighttime residence.
Physical Exclusion Methods
Implementing physical barriers is the most direct way to prevent frogs from entering the pool area entirely. A standard pool fence, while effective for safety, usually has gaps too large to stop a determined tree frog. To create a true amphibian barrier, a solid, smooth material must be attached to the base of the existing fence or installed around the perimeter.
Attaching a smooth, non-climbable material, such as clear acrylic sheeting or solid vinyl, at least eight inches high to the bottom of the fence blocks ground-level entry. This barrier should be flush with the ground or buried slightly to prevent frogs from crawling underneath it. This method physically prevents amphibians from hopping or climbing into the pool enclosure.
When the pool is not in use, a solid pool cover provides the most complete physical exclusion, blocking access to the water surface. Mesh safety covers, while excellent for debris and human safety, may not be fine enough to deter smaller tree frogs from passing through or under the material. A securely fitted, solid cover acts as an impenetrable shield, eliminating the water as a resource.
For pools where complete exclusion is not always possible, installing dedicated escape ramps is a humane and effective mitigation tool. Devices known commercially as “Frog Logs” or “Critter Savers” feature a floating platform and a mesh ramp extending over the pool coping. These ramps allow any small animal that accidentally enters the water to find an easy exit point, reducing the number of drowned animals found in the pool or skimmer basket. Placing these ramps strategically near the pool’s skimmer openings is helpful, as the current often directs struggling animals toward these intake areas.
Environmental Deterrents and Habitat Modification
Modifying the environment immediately surrounding the pool makes the area less appealing to tree frogs by eliminating their sources of food and shelter. The most significant environmental factor drawing frogs is the presence of nocturnal insects, which are heavily influenced by outdoor lighting. Standard white or blue pool and patio lights emit a higher concentration of ultraviolet light, which is attractive to most flying insects.
Switching to warm-colored LED lighting, such as yellow, amber, or red, substantially reduces the number of insects drawn to the area. These warmer color temperatures, typically below 3000 Kelvin, are less visible to insects, cutting off the frog’s primary food source. Turning off all lights near the pool after dark is the most effective measure, immediately eliminating the beacon that attracts both insects and their predators.
Landscaping adjustments play a significant role in creating an unwelcoming environment for tree frogs. Frogs seek out damp, dense areas for daytime rest and protection from predators and the sun. This requires removing or trimming back dense vegetation, tall grasses, and thick shrubs immediately adjacent to the pool deck, creating an open, exposed perimeter.
Clearing away clutter, such as stacked wood, unused pots, or piles of debris, eliminates excellent daytime hiding spots. Ensuring proper drainage around the pool deck to prevent standing water is important, as wet areas provide the necessary moisture for amphibians to remain active. These habitat modifications make the backyard less hospitable for tree frogs, encouraging them to seek shelter in a more natural environment further away.
Chemical and Sanitation Considerations
The water chemistry maintained in a typical swimming pool poses a direct threat to the health of any tree frog that enters. Amphibians possess highly permeable skin, designed to absorb water and oxygen from their environment. When a frog enters chlorinated water, its skin absorbs the dissolved chlorine and other sanitizers, which are toxic to its biological systems.
Prolonged exposure to properly maintained chlorine levels will cause severe irritation and dehydration, leading to eventual fatality. Therefore, chemical deterrents, such as applying caustic substances around the pool perimeter, are not recommended. These methods are inherently inhumane and can be hazardous to pets and children. The focus should remain on prevention rather than chemical removal.
If a frog is found in the pool water, it should be removed gently with a soft net and relocated to a safe, natural habitat far from the pool area. If a frog has died in the pool, remove it using gloves and a net to avoid direct contact with bacteria, such as Salmonella, that amphibians can carry. Following the removal of organic matter, a quick shock treatment of the pool water is usually sufficient to neutralize contaminants and restore the water’s sanitary balance.