New Pool Owner - can't keep chlorine in pool

[cu0ngpitt]

Well @Dirk, it is confirmed. I have a baby raccoon feasting on the seeds in my tree.

My wife wants to keep him lol. I will admit he was cute but that's gonna have to be a huge no for me. I just hope he's alone and didn't bring the family with him. Gonna get animal control over here asap.

 

[Dirk]

Stand corrected. I guess I've never seen one in a tree. Though he or his kin might still be using the pool as I described. Glad you figured it out. If there's more than one (seems likely for a youngin'), hopefully AC will get them all. Here's a read. Have the wife read down a ways, that'll get her over the "cute." I'd ask AC if they have any info on the diseases your "herd" might be carrying. If any, your pool has been subjected to them now... I think there is one in particular they've been known to carry that is really bad in a pool. Chlorine-resistant if memory serves (which it seldom does)!

Raccoon In Swimming Pool - Urine, Pee, Feces, and Poo in Pool

Raccoon In Swimming Pool - Urine, Pee, Feces, and Poo in Pool

www.raccoonatticguide.com

I just grabbed that off the 'net, without fact checking. There are lots of other pages on the subject...

 

[cu0ngpitt]

Aww geez. Now I have to get the racoon/feces tested for roundworms?!

The fun just doesn't stop!

 

[Dirk]

Fingers crossed. So sorry this is happening. Are you planning on keeping everybody out of the water?

 

[cu0ngpitt]

Are you planning on keeping everybody out of the water?

Yea, I didnt think it could be that serious until you sent me that link. Then i went to CDC and was like... "Ok, confirmed."
Raccoons & Pools | Healthy Swimming | Healthy Water | CDC

 

[Dirk]

Pretty scary bug. When I built my gopher fence, I added the shock wire on top of that to keep out raccoons and possums. I'm adding more of the fence in the fall, to protect another side of the yard.

I'm reading conflicting things, too. How serious the illness is for one. And how to get rid of the eggs from your pool. The CDC is saying to filter and backwash (or throw the cartridges away). Another article I found stated the eggs are smaller than a pool filter can catch, which would render the CDC's instructions incorrect. Not sure what to believe. It'd be a shame to have to do more than necessary, but worse to do less. Sorry, stating the obvious...

Also, are you supposed to test the water, or the raccoon, or the poop? Be sure you're clear on that before Animal Control relocates the critter(s). Best to have the poop tested, I would think. Or both (if they can even test for that in 11K of pool water). If the youngster is clear, but it was his pop that was pooping in the pool, what are you supposed to do?

I read they are creatures of habit. So whichever ones are using the pool, will do it again. I'd be tempted to let them, just so I could grab a testable sample. I suppose the more of them you trap and test, the better.

Again, hoping for a happy ending and that there's no traces of eggs found.

Once you clear the pool, you might have a look here:

How I Spent My Summer (aka: Where the Heck Has Dirk Been?!?)

It's rainy today, so I'm trapped inside. Why not hang out at TFP!?! If anyone's been wondering why I've been mostly AWOL from TFP, here's the tale. In my defense, I did answer all my private messages, and even chimed in here and there as time permitted. And that's been the challenge, the time...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[cu0ngpitt]

So there was a typo in the article you sent me. Someone else corrected it and said a pool filter WILL capture the eggs in the comments of the page.

Also, are you supposed to test the water, or the raccoon, or the poop?

I can test the raccoon or poop.

That is one fancy Rear fence you got there. Very very nice! Makes me want to do something similar. We don't have gopher issues here so I'd like to put that up on the top side of my fence. It might be awhile but eventually I will probably poke you for advice on the fence.

 

[Dirk]

OK, whew. That’s good news. That will simplify things somewhat. Yah, glad to help with the fence. The supplier gave me a discount on the mesh in exchange for a picture tutorial, which I’ll make this fall, so I’ll have a step by step at some point.

 

[cu0ngpitt]

Quick update. My overnight chlorine test is only losing 2.5 ppm now, which is much much better than before!

I was able to cut down two branches of the tree and it GREATLY reduced the amount of leaves falling into my pool. Surprising because the branches weren't even over hanging the pool. In addition, it relocated the raccoon to another side of the yard where his poop won't land in the pool from pooping in the tree.

My only problem now is I'd like to get rid of the mess of seeds and poop this raccoon is leaving. I called animal control and the info they gave me made me feel like they didn't know what they were talking about. He told me bleach will kill the eggs and chlorine is not bleach. Also told me he has a pool, wth? Not willing to pay $300 to a company that doesn't know what they talking about. Called another animal control company which uses humane practices to get rid of wildlife and they use deterrent methods. I think, Dirk, you know best that getting rid of one animal just makes room for another and this is one of the reasons they do not trap and relocate, they use deterrent methods.

This reminds me all to well of Dirk's story which made me decide to go ahead and start looking into the electric fence idea. @Dirk I liked how you have a "shelf" on the top side of your electric fence which helps keep animals from leaping over. Was wondering where did you find that or what is it called so I can look it up?

 

[Dirk]

I bought a flat role of the mesh. It's, 4' x 100' (or 50') with a 3/4" grid, stainless steel. From Gopher's Limited. Somewhere on their site they describe the installation, but they only show a 6" bend at the bottom (under ground), and no PVC supports. I added the 6" shelf on top, because it made sense to me, and then the supports, and then the shock wire on top of that to keep larger animals from just walking over it. The mesh is flat, so I had to form the bends. (Try that on a 100' length!) I used SS airplane wire to tie everything together, instead of zip ties which don't last in the sun. The ends of the fence wrap around, in a barrel shape. So, theoretically, if they try to walk over, they hit the top shelf. If they run into the underground mesh, and try to dig under it, they hit the bottom shelf. If they go sideways, they'll get into the "round-about" barrel shape and get led back the way they came. So far, no gopher has defeated it. Whatever tore up my garden (raccoon or possum) hasn't been back. Now the squirrels, they walk right through the hot wires. Haven't solved for them. Yet. Muahaha! When you're ready to build, I'll send you some more pics that will give you some more details...