Keeping small animals out of pool

We are putting in an inground pool this month. We decided against an automatic safety cover due to cost. I am getting a little concerned, though, because we have so many rabbits and squirrels in our yard. An I going to find dead animals in my pool on a regular basis? I plan to use a solar cover at night. Will the solar cover help to keep them out. I am hoping that if a small animal fell on the cover, it could quickly run and hop out?? Hopefully the animal would be light enough to stay on the cover and not fall completely in the water. Any thoughts? I'm wondering if I will regret not getting the safety cover.