Ok how common is this- (Plano: houses, scorpions, live in)

[sossie]

We have just installed a pool and we are in the process of filling it up-went out to check it yesterday and there was a snake swimming in it-not huge about 1.5ft long-I think it was an "earth snake" or maybe Texas brown snake....I hate snakes probably has to do with growing up in rural Australia and having my fare share of encounters with poisonous snakes...but how often does this happen-we live on a golf course and the groundskeepers had been mowing yesterday and I wonder whether it was scared and came up into out yard because of that....any insights??

[ggolf]

I lived on the 3rd fairway of Prestonwood CC, and had a pool. I had critters all the time. Scorpions, Opossum, Snapping Turtles, lots of frogs and toads. Squirrel in the attic. Rabbits up the wazoo. It's just us getting into their zone.

Plano is not the Outback, however.

Only 2 bad snakes here in Texas, that I know of: Cotton Mouth and Copper Head. Rattlers are more out west of DFW. Other snakes are actually beneficial.

I think your digging up the yard for the pool probably upset some critters and that showed itself. Should quiet down as time goes by. But mother nature is what she is.

[PlanoGirl]

We have a pool and are also on a golf course. We haven't had a snake in our pool yet, but we have had plenty of bunnies and the occasional frog. A remember finding a snake in my parents pool when I was a kid, but it maybe happened twice in 10 years. Of course, if you are by a wooded part of the course, or lake area, then your prevalence for wildlife will be higher. Also, if there is a lot of building/development going on nearby, those animals are being displaced, and that will increase the amount of them that find their way into your pool.

[HockeyDadof2]

The worst is opening up the skimmer to find the dead baby bunnies.UGH

[nonexpat]

My neighbor used to find a lot of rats in her pool in Plano. Surprisingly, Plano is swarming with rats. I used to see them running along the top of the fences at night. Plano is very clean and tidy, so this always shocked me.

[Rakin]

Always look into the skimmer basket BEFORE you reach down to grab the handle to empty it. Finding a dead or alive animal will happen on occasion.

My wife had a rat swimming after her floaty one day while she was sunning in the pool. I could hear her screams from the media room where I was watching a movie. I had to get my leaf scooper and drown the little sucker.

[Texastopia]

Its more common than one would think,considering most of us live in cement jungles.

[gymrat]

Things found in the pool:
Snakes
Rabbits
Rat (once thank goodness just one) Invested in "scum balls" from pool supply after that one. ICK!
Birds
Frogs
Baby ducks (baby ducks can't take the treated water like adult ducks)

Pool is in heavily landscaped backyard that is across the street from houses on the golf course that then back to a wooded area and creek.

[sossie]

Originally Posted by gymrat

Things found in the pool:
Snakes
Rabbits
Rat (once thank goodness just one) Invested in "scum balls" from pool supply after that one. ICK!
Birds
Frogs
Baby ducks (baby ducks can't take the treated water like adult ducks)

Pool is in heavily landscaped backyard that is across the street from houses on the golf course that then back to a wooded area and creek.

What are "scum balls"?

[gymrat]

Scum balls are a ball that looks like it is made out of some type of terry cloth and about the size of a tennis ball. You put them in your skimmers.
They attract oils, hair, etc from the pool water. They are washable and reusable. I've started using them all the time now.