How To Keep Bats Away From Your Pool

Bats play an important role in our ecosystem. They eat insects and help pollinate plants, making them valuable contributors to the natural world.

However, they should not be found around pools. In this article, we’ll provide you with easy tips to keep bats away and ensure a fun swimming experience. So, let’s get into it.

 

What Does A Bat Look Like?

Bats are unique mammals with distinct features. They have wings made of thin skin that help them fly, with a wingspan ranging from a few inches to over five feet, depending on the type of bat. Their bodies are covered in fur, which can be brown, gray, or black, depending on the species.

One of the most noticeable features of bats is their ears, which are often large and pointed. They use these ears to navigate and find food by making high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects and come back to them, a process called echolocation.

Bats also have sharp teeth that they use to catch and eat insects, fruits, and nectar. Some species have unique facial structures, like large noses or leaf-like structures around their mouths.

 

Why Will Bats Be Around My Pool?

Bats might be attracted to pools for several reasons. Here are some common ones:

1. Water Source: Bats need water to live, just like other animals. If there are no ponds or streams nearby, they might come to your pool for water.
2. Insect Attraction: Bats mostly eat insects, and many insects are drawn to lights and water. If your pool is well-lit at night, it could attract insects, which then attract bats who eat them.
3. Roosting Sites: Bats rest during the day in dark, quiet places. If your pool area has suitable spots for them to rest, like trees or buildings nearby, bats might visit more often.
4. Warmth: In cooler climates, the warmth of the pool water or the surrounding area may be attractive to bats seeking a comfortable place to sleep.

 

Read also: What is a Group of Bats Called? Bats Group Name

 

How To Keep Bats Away From Your Pool

1. Light the Pool Area With Bright Lights

Bats are nocturnal creatures that come out mostly at night. If you light up your pool area brightly, it can make them feel unwelcome. Bats usually stay away from well-lit areas, so adding more lights can stop them from getting close to your pool.

You might want to install strong floodlights that light up where they fly, making it unpleasant for them. Keep increasing the light’s brightness until it’s too uncomfortable for the bats to be around.

 

2. Install Ultrasonic Sound Devices

Ultrasonic sound devices emit high-frequency sounds that bats don’t like. These devices will not harm you or your pets, but can effectively keep bats away from your pool area.

The ultrasonic frequencies they emit can’t be heard by humans but they can be heard by bats and it bothers them. You can try using an ultrasonic bat repellent. This device covers a wide area and not only keeps bats away but also keeps other pests like rodents and spiders away.

 

3. Remove Food Sources and Bugs

Bats are drawn to places with lots of insects, which they eat. To keep bats away from your pool, get rid of the insects. You can use insect repellent or turn off the pool lights to reduce the number of insects near the water.

Also, consider removing fruit trees or flowering plants around your pool that attract insects, this will make the pool area less appealing to bats.

 

4. Use Netting to Cover Your Pool

Using netting is a good way to keep bats away from your pool. Install fine mesh netting around your pool, to create a barrier that stops bats from getting in.

Make sure the netting is tight and does not have any gaps, so bats can’t squeeze through. Bats are creatures of habit, so if they run into this barrier a few times, they’ll start looking for other ways to fly, away from your pool.

 

5. Spray Natural Repellents Around Pool

Using natural smells that bats don’t like can help keep them away from your pool. Some scents that repel bats are menthol, spearmint, eucalyptus, and cinnamon.

Mix a generous amount of these essential oils with water in a spray bottle and spray the solution around your poolside. Another thing you can do is to hang bags of these oils around the pool area, placing them where bats usually come from.

 

5. Get Rid of Places They Can Rest

By getting rid of places where they could rest, you make your pool area less appealing to them. Here are some ways to get rid of resting spots for good:

• Use visual deterrents: Installing bright lights near the roosting sites can help. Bats don’t like bright lights, so shining them at their nests can make them uncomfortable and eventually make them leave.
• Try aerosol cat and dog repellent: Spray this non-toxic repellent at the nests during the daytime when the bats are not around. It’s a practical and effective way to get rid of bats for several months.
• Use balloons or aluminum foil: Bats are sensitive to movement and noise. The movement of balloons or the sound of long strips of aluminum foil can deter bats. Also, the reflective surface of aluminum produces flashes of light that can disorient bats.
• Try using mothballs: Bats have a strong sense of smell, and mothballs can repel them. Hang a cloth bag containing a few mothballs near the bats’ nesting area. The strong odor will make the bats uncomfortable and drive them away.

 

7. Seek Professional Extermination Help

If you’re still having trouble with bats despite your efforts, it might be time to get help from professionals. Professional exterminators have the expertise, experience, and tools to trap and deter bats from your pool area effectively.

They can remove bats without causing harm or breaking any laws related to pest control. Make sure you hire a licensed pest control company that follows legal regulations.

 

Read also: Do Bats Hibernate? A Detailed Insight into Bat Hibernation

 

More on How To Keep Bats Away From Your Pool

Watch the video below for more information about bats and how to keep them away from your pool.

 

Conclusion

Keeping bats away from your pool involves several preventive measures, such as using bright lights, netting, ultrasonic sound devices, removing food sources, and natural repellents, and getting rid of roosting sites.

When you follow these tips, you can make your pool area less appealing to bats and enjoy swimming without them. Remember, if you continue to have bat problems, consider getting professional help. It’s important to deter bats without harming them, as they are an important part of our ecosystem.

 

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