Florida has an array of wildlife that lives side by side with residents. Most of the time, you never see the Florida wildlife; but there are those rare times when you almost come face to face with it. This can be dangerous for varying reasons when it involves your residential Pool. Let’s look at some issues:
- Dead animals. Finding dead animals in residential pools is the most common issue with Florida wildlife – skunks, mice, gophers, rats, snakes, frogs, bats and opossums. Most do not pose a health risk, since the chlorine quickly kills off most germs. You just have to properly remove the animal and disinfect the water.
- For those residential pools near farmland, pre-weaned calves and lambs – dead or alive – are often infected with a chlorine resistant germ that can harm humans.
- Raccoons. They can occasionally carry rabies, but that is very rare. Some raccoons, however, are infected with a worm that can spread to humans. Whether a raccoon is found dead in your pool or it just defecated in or near it, it can be dangerous to humans.
- Birds. Dead birds and bird droppings are a problem and can make humans sick. Ducks and geese droppings are a particular issue with germs resistant to chlorine. If any are nesting near your pool, call authorities for removal, since they are protected by both federal and state laws.
- Alligators. There are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida that live in all 67 counties. With such large numbers, you’re bound to hear about these dangerous animals coming into residential areas. Pools are especially attractive to alligators, which also are protected by law; so you must call authorities for removal.
- Bees and other stinging insects. Swarms of bees in or near a residential pool can endanger humans, especially those allergic to their stings. If a really large group of bees suddenly camps near your pool, call a certified beekeeper for removal. That way, they continue to help the environment, the beekeeper gets more bees, and you get rid of them.
- Panthers and other very wild animals. While northerners may deal with bears, moose and deer, in Florida, we occasionally deal with panthers, iguanas and other unusual Florida wildlife – even for Florida residential pools.
In August 2017, a woman actually found a panther (or a bobcat, she couldn’t be sure) relaxing and cooling off in her pool. Obviously, the danger was to her safety. Though the big cat seemed docile, it could have attacked with little – if any – provocation.
For any of these residential pool issues, stay clear and contact animal control or your local health department for advice on how to deal with the problem.
Contact Pool Doctor of the Palm Beaches today to discuss all your pool service needs.
561-203-0270
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program.” Accessed October 5, 2017. http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/alligator/nuisance.
United Press International. “Possible Panther Recorded Lounging by Florida Woman’s Pool.” Accessed October 5, 2017. https://www.upi.com/Possible-panther-recorded-lounging-by-Florida-womans-pool/5781502735613.
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