Imagine walking near your pool in the morning and discovering traces of raccoon excrement in it. I believe, in this situation, the only question you anxiously want to be answered is how to clean raccoon poop in the pool?
- First of all, drain the pool and collect a poop specimen to be checked for roundworm eggs.
- Transfer all of the fecal matter into a trash bag and seal it tightly. This dung should be buried, burned, or disposed of in the garbage.
- Backwash the pool filter after it has been filtered for at least 24 hours or Backwash the pool filter, then drain and hose down the pool.
- Before refilling the pool with water, thoroughly clean it and wash it with strong disinfectants.
Continue reading to discover more about how to properly treat and dispose of raccoon poop and how to deal with this problem.
Why Do Raccoons Poop In Pool?
Swimming pools fascinate raccoons because they enjoy and prefer to live close to water. Surprisingly, your pool attracts these midnight guests not just when they are thirsty or they need to wash their food, but also when they need to poop.
Raccoons, like cats, prefer to bury their feces that’s why your swimming pool serves as a perfect toilet for them. Raccoons are habitual of defecating in shallow water. It’s their strategy to keep their fecal matter hidden from their enemies.
How Do I Clean My Pool After Raccoon Poop?
Raccoon feces are very harmful and may contain serious transmittable diseases. That’s why, it is crucial to learn how to clean the Raccoon’s poop, and carefully dispose of the excreta.
When cleaning raccoon dung, remember! Always take precautions. Don’t forget to wear gloves and protective clothing. Close your pool for all the swimmers till the time your pool gets cleaned and disinfected. Now let’s get started with the strategy for getting rid of this problem!
- To begin the procedure, remove fecal matter from the pool with the help of a net, bucket, or shovel and take a sample to check the presence of roundworm eggs.
- Use of pool vacuum to remove poop is not recommended at all.
- Backwashing the filter, along with draining and hosing, are required for the cleaning of these contaminated pools.
- Change the filter material, if required.
- If the roundworm test is positive, you must disinfect the pool multiple times before taking another test to ensure that all roundworm eggs have been eradicated. This is because most chemical treatments seem to have very little or no effect on eggs.
- After cleaning, double bag the waste material along with the gloves you used for cleaning.
- Appropriately dispose of the bagged waste material so it won’t become a source of contamination of the surroundings.
- Follow the necessary protocols to sterilize the equipment you used for cleaning dung.
- In the end, properly clean and sanitize your hands with soap and warm water.
How To Disinfect Pool After Clearing Raccoon Poop?
Chlorine-based disinfectants and oxidizers are among the most commonly used sanitizers that help in swimming pool management. Chlorine is typically introduced in the form of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hypochlorite (OCl-) to destroy pathogens in the water.
We can also take the help of Enzymes which is an outstanding player in the field of pool disinfectants. Pool Enzymes participate in strengthening chlorine by effectively ingesting non-living organic elements, and making room for chlorine to approach and eliminate the actual troublemakers.
pH and chlorine levels should also be carefully examined and maintained at the correct levels to help disinfect the pool.
How To Test Pool Water For Baylisascaris?
Techniques for detecting Baylisascaris in swimming pool water are provided below:
- Collect Samples: The first step is to collect enough pool water to make a sample. Taking samples from several parts of your pool will help you get an accurate overall picture.
- Get a Testing Kit: Get a diagnostic kit developed specifically for detecting Baylisascaris. These kits are not sold at your normal pool supply store but can be acquired from medical supply companies or even online.
- Prepare the Samples: Follow the guidelines in your testing kit to prepare your water samples properly. To do this, the water sample is mixed with the reagents or chemicals provided in the kit.
- Take the Exam: Carry out the examination in accordance with the kit’s guidelines. There could be waiting periods, color-changing reactions, or microscopic examinations involved.
- Interpreting Results: Once the test is done, look at the results using the instructions that came with the kit. Check for visual evidence of Baylisascaris, such as colour changes, the production of precipitate, or other diagnostic symptoms.
- Make Sure to Test Regularly: Baylisascaris poses serious health risks, so testing should be done regularly, especially in places where raccoons are active. Keeping the water safe for swimming requires vigilant early identification and prevention.
- Act as needed: If Baylisascaris is found, act right away. For safe elimination of the parasite, it may be necessary to clean the pool thoroughly, treat it with particular chemicals, or bring in professional pool maintenance services.
Instruct Others: Get the word out about the dangers of Baylisascaris. In order to create a safer environment for everyone, it’s important to encourage others to perform frequently.
Does Chlorine Kill Raccoon Poop In Pool?
Chlorine is known to kill the majority of germs within a few minutes after its application. In pools, chlorine ends up killing most of the pathogens that a raccoon might bring into the water, but it doesn’t work on Baylisascaris eggs and fails to kill them.
So it is not possible to rely on chlorine alone when it comes to disinfecting pools contaminated with raccoon feces. Other strong and effective disinfectants have to be used along with chlorine to achieve the desired goal.
How Long A Pool Should Be Closed After Poop?
If you found a Raccoon poop in your pool, close it immediately for swimming. Clear the poop and disinfect the pool following the proper procedure we have discussed above.
Then let the pool be closed for 24-72 hours, depending on the results of lab tests of fecal samples, to get assure that all germs and roundworm eggs have been killed and the pool is now safe for human use.
Is Raccoon Poop Toxic To Humans?
Raccoons have a bad reputation for harboring diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Along with other infectious agents, Raccoon feces may contain a roundworm parasite known as Baylisascaris procyonis, which is extremely dangerous to humans.
If it is inhaled or its eggs are swallowed, it can lead to serious nervous disorders. These roundworm eggs have high resistance against disinfectants including chlorine so it is not easy to kill them.
That’s why it is recommended to take precautions so these pests stay away from your property and won’t spread an infectious mess in your pool or other surrounding areas.
How To Repel Raccoons From Pool?
Raccoons are very intelligent critters. It is not easy to keep them away from their favorite places; however, we have listed below a few techniques to keep them at bay to keep you and your surroundings safe from the health hazards associated with them.
Keep the pool protected
Make sure that the raccoons’ preferred entry point into the pool is closed. They will always take the same route because they assume it is their safe zone. If you completely restrict that site or cover your pool then they won’t have any choice but to explore any other option to play, eat, or poop. As a result, your swimming pool will be saved.
Place a fence around the pool
Keep the fence or barrier around the pool and make sure they remain closed when you are not around, to prevent raccoons from creeping into the swimming pool.
Keep pet guards
Dogs are best when it comes to scaring raccoons and securing your property. Keep your pet dog near the pool. Dogs are very watchful night guards so they can easily keep an eye on these nocturnal intruders and warn them to stay away from their guarded area.
Use Raccoon repellents
Several deterrents may help keep raccoons away from your pool. Raccoons dislike strong odors such as ammonia and aromatic oils. You can spray them around your pool to make raccoons nauseate and deter them.
You can also use high-beam spotlights, loud noises, or live traps to get rid of these messy critters.
Above all, always attempt to conceal all food sources, including open garbage cans near your pool, because, in addition to water, food is a thing that attracts raccoons and forces them to visit your property.
Conclusion
Raccoons’ feces in a pool is a serious problem that needs your immediate response. This article could assist you in cleaning and sterilizing your pool on your own. However, if you still have concerns regarding the pool cleaning, better to immediately close your pool for swimming and get professional help.
FAQs
Does Chlorine Kill Poop In The Pool?
In swimming pools, Chlorine is a disinfectant to kill harmful germs and viruses. However, Chlorine’s effectiveness in destroying pathogens in feces varies widely depending on the kind of microbe at hand. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are two examples of bacteria that can survive in a chlorinated pool for several days. As a result, while Chlorine can reduce the severity of some forms of feces contamination, it is not a perfect solution. To ensure the safety of your pool, it is essential to do routine maintenance and remove any feces immediately.
Is Dried Raccoon Poop Dangerous?
The raccoon roundworm, or Baylisascaris procyonis, can be found in dried raccoon feces and is extremely hazardous to humans. Parasites can cause serious illness in humans, including neurological damage, if their eggs are inhaled or mistakenly used. Raccoon poop can be hazardous, especially if it has dried out and become brittle. Thus, care must be taken when removing it.
Why Are Racoons Pooping In My Pool?
Raccoons may be attracted to your pool area for several reasons, such as easy access to water, possible food sources, or just because it’s a safe place to defecate. This behavior, called “latrine-ing,” could also be a way to mark their territory. Remove potential food sources and close openings around your pool to deter raccoons.
Can Chlorine Disinfect Poop?
Poop contains a wide variety of germs and viruses. Still, Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant and can successfully kill them all. However, some pathogens are extremely resistant to Chlorine and may persist for extended durations in chlorinated water, particularly those enclosed in a cyst-like form (like Cryptosporidium). Therefore, in the case of feculent contamination, while Chlorine can aid in disinfection, it should not be relied upon as the sole means of sanitation.
Can Rabies Survive In Pool Water?
The rabies virus is a deadly pathogen mostly spread through an affected animal’s saliva. Outside of its host, the virus is very fragile. It can be killed quickly by sunlight, drying, or chemical disinfectants like Chlorine. If the pool is regularly chlorinated, the rabies virus is highly unlikely to live in the water. However, the best course of action is to block access to your pool from any animals that could spread rabies.
References
- Raccoons Latrines- CDC
- Newyork- Department of Health