Raccoons in the Swimming Pool: Why They Visit and How to Stop Them

Raccoons visit pools to drink, wash food, and hunt for the insects and frogs that collect on the water and cover. To stop them, remove the food that draws them into the yard, keep the cover tight, and block the fence gaps they use.

A pool rarely attracts a raccoon on its own. It is usually one stop on a route that also includes the trash cans, a pet bowl, or the bird feeder. Fix the route and the pool visits tend to stop with it.

Why are raccoons coming to your pool?

Raccoons are drawn to water. They drink from pools, and they like to handle and dunk food at the water's edge. In the off-season, a covered pool with leaves and rainwater on top becomes a small pond that collects frogs, beetles, and other insects, which is an easy meal for a raccoon working the yard at night.

Most of the time, though, the pool is not the reason the raccoon came. Something else in the yard brought it over the fence: an unsecured trash can, pet food on the patio, fallen fruit, or seed under a feeder. Once it is in the yard, the pool is a convenient place to stop.

What signs do raccoons leave around a pool?

The clearest sign is wet or muddy tracks on the pool deck or coping. Raccoon prints look like small human hands, with five long toes. You may also see:

A muddy ring at the waterline or on the steps, where a raccoon has been wading and handling food. Droppings on the steps, the pool edge, or the top of a retaining wall. Torn, stretched, or sagging winter covers, especially near the corners where an animal climbs on and off.

Do not handle droppings with bare hands. If you find them in or around the pool, ask your pool service or a professional about safe cleanup and water treatment before anyone swims.

How do you keep raccoons away from the pool?

The best results come from removing reasons to visit and making the pool area harder to reach.

• Remove food elsewhere in the yard: Secure trash with tight lids, feed pets indoors, pick up fallen fruit, and clean up seed under feeders.
• Keep the cover tight and clear: Pump off standing water and clear leaves so the cover does not turn into a frog and insect pond.
• Trim branches over the fence: Overhanging limbs give raccoons an easy way into a fenced pool yard.
• Close gaps under gates: A raccoon can squeeze under a surprisingly small gap at the bottom of a gate or fence panel.
• Add motion lighting: Lights along the path the raccoon uses make the yard feel less safe at night.

What about the off-season in Texas?

Southern winters are mild, so raccoons stay active through the cooler months instead of holing up for long stretches. An uncovered pool full of leaves, or a cover with standing water on top, becomes a reliable nightly stop. Check the cover after every storm, keep the pump and skimmer clear, and keep the rest of the yard free of food. A pool that is dull and empty at night is much less interesting than the neighbor's.

When is trapping the right call?

If a raccoon keeps coming back every night despite these changes, trapping may be the next step. Check local regulations before you trap or relocate, since rules on raccoons vary by state and city. Pool yards often have pets and children nearby, so place the trap away from where people walk, and know that a neighbor's cat may investigate the bait too. Knowing what you caught, and when, matters in a busy backyard.

How does OcuTrap fit a pool yard?

OcuTrap sends a real-time photo alert the moment an animal is caught, so you can see whether it is the raccoon or the family cat without walking out in the dark. If it is a non-target, you can release it from the app. Because it uses cellular connectivity, OcuTrap works at the back fence or behind the pool house where Wi-Fi often drops out.

Keep the pool for people, and know right away when the visitor is caught. Learn more at ocutrap.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do raccoons swim in swimming pools?

Raccoons are capable swimmers, but they usually stay at the edge of a pool, wading on the steps, drinking, and handling food in the water. Tracks and a muddy ring at the steps or waterline are more common than a raccoon swimming laps. Signs on the pool deck usually mean the yard has a food source nearby.

Can raccoons damage a pool cover?

Yes. Raccoons climb on and off winter covers, especially at the corners, and their claws can stretch, tear, or puncture lighter covers. Standing water and leaves on top attract insects and frogs, which gives raccoons more reason to walk on the cover. Keeping it tight and clear makes it less inviting.

What should I do if I find raccoon droppings in my pool?

Keep people and pets out of the water and do not handle the droppings with bare hands. Contact your pool service or a professional for guidance on safe removal and water treatment before anyone swims again. Then look for what is drawing the raccoon into the yard so it does not keep happening.

Will motion lights keep raccoons away from my pool?

Motion lights can help by making the pool area feel exposed at night, but raccoons often get used to them over time. They work best as one part of a plan that also removes food from the yard, keeps the cover clear, trims overhanging branches, and closes gaps under gates.