Classic critter stories

[PhantomAndy]

Maybe not a classic - but I had just purchased my new Dolphin Diagnostic a few years ago.

It had been running for a few hours - and I decided to go out and watch it for a minute or two (kinda fun for the first few hours).

While wathcing it do it's thing under the pool lights I kept noticing something on the bottom that would move just before the cleaner got to it. I thought it was a leaf getting pushed out of the way a little as the cleaner got close.

I watch a bit longer - and then realized that this 'leaf' was moving even when the Dolphin wasn't anywhere near. It appeared to be trying to move up the slope from the deep end, but would then slide back down.

The Dolphin was just about to run it over - and I realized that it was something alive! I couldn't stand the thought of trying to dig it out of the Dolphin so I dashed over to the power supply and turned the cleaner off, just inches before sucking up this thing.

I got the skimmer net out - and as I tried to fish it up off the bottom I realized it was a crawdad. I had no idea how a crawdad could survive in water with a 5ppm Cl reading - but it seemed quite happy as it kept crawling off the skimmer net and falling back to the bottom.

After a few minutes I managed to get it out of the pool and tossed onto the lawn. I moved it back to the 'creek' that is nearby and hoped to never see him again. Of course I have now fished more than 5 crawdads out of the water over the past 3 years.

A classic? I dunno - but between the crawdads, turtles and moles I'm fishing stuff out all the time.

[mjones]

Last year was our 1st year in this house. So, naturally, I wanted to check on the pool EVERY night before bedtime, just to make sure it was ok!? Well, I always fuss at the kids to get all toys out after swimming. So, it was about 10pm & I do my normal routine, check the pool. The closer I got, I started to notice what I thought was the strap to goggles floating in pool. But GUESS WHAT!! Nope, not goggle strap! It was a SNAKE!! In my brand new pool liner!!! As you can guess I am terrified of snakes. Well, I woke my husband up, he said it will be fine, it will get out. I said, "NO! You have to get it out now!" Bless his heart, he really does love me. He got out of bed, & went fishing for a snake with only a skimmer net to work with. AND, I had to hold the flash light. FROM A DISTANCE, of course... So, he got it out, & killed it, A blue racer!!! Needless to say, before snake came around, we were getting about 10 or more frogs out per day, while snake was there, about 1 or 2 a week!! I don't know about you, but I think I'd rather deal with the frogs. So, that's my critter story!!

[crosso]

Just yesterday, I went to clean out the skimmer when I got home from work. I looked before I grabbed it and saw what I thought were leaves. When I picked it up about halfway there was a dead baby bird inside. I don't think I'm over it yet.

Casey

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

This was the first yr in this house so it was our first opening. I'm powerwashing the patio/decking while my wife is busy cleaing leaves and what not out when she drops the skimmer and starts screaming and pointing in the pool. I turn around to see a squirrel sunk to the bottom among the leaves staring up with his arms outstreched. We both were convinced it was alive but after 15 mins we worked up the courage to get it out. It definetly was NOT alive... but sure used up the TONS of chlorine the previous owner used to winterize!

[Theusla]

So far only a couple of dead mice. I have seen a couple of snakes in the yard but not in the pool. (Thank goodness) My wife would never get in again.

[b2001]

In years past, there is a bat that will come out right after dusk and fly over and around our pool several times. We can't really seem him all that well, but he moves too fast and makes too sudden of moves to be a bird. It looks pretty neat, especially if the pool light is on.

We came home from being out one day last summer to find male and female mallard ducks swimming in our pool. I guess they were making a pit stop, they haven't been back since.

Otherwise, I've only found dead lizards in our pool so far.

[Theusla]

OK, I guess I jinxed myself in the earlier post. I was cleaning the pool Saturday and found a small snake in the skimmer. He shot out into the pool I had to round him up with the net. Thank goodness he was little.