Dead animal in pool

[Poolproblems]

We have a 15ft above ground pool in our garden (in UK). For various reasons the pool hasn't been used since last year. It can't be seen from the house due to garden layout and for various MH reasons I've not been in the garden until the last week or so.

At some point the cover has come off the pool which is now half full of stagnant water, and a dead animal (we think badger). I called the council but they are unable to remove it, Rentokil only remove animals from inside. The only company I can find want £450, and can't guarantee removal. Which I will have to pay unless I can find an alternative although it is twice what the pool cost!

Do I just need to suck it up?

Suck up the cost that is!

get your rubber gloves on??

Why can't you remove it yourself? Could you not get a net with a long handle and fish it out or something?

Why can't you remove it and drain the pool? If it's a messy job, perhaps you could ask on a local Facebook page if a handyman or someone would do it for you. We have a general page and there's always people on there asking for odd jobs to be done.

Can you not just move it yourself?

Just scoop it out and put it in the woods or similar .. it won't hurt you! Then drain the pool and clean it ! 🤷‍♀️

I'll come and remove it for you for £400

It is not recently deceased. It is also much too big for a net (we have a fishing size net which the council workers tried to use and could not manage).

Just remove it, poor thing, make sure the cover is firmly on in future.

What are you afraid of Op? I don't understand , just drag the bloody thing out !!

My neighbours are all very elderly. I am not sure about asking on FB, my concern is that someone who is just a random might not remove it all - the company I think are going to drain the pool as well to make sure they take all of it plus that there is nothing else lurking.

I simply can't do it myself, honestly if two guys from the council couldn't do it I can't see how I could, plus I retch when emptying the bin, the thought of trying to scoop this out is just too much for me. I don't have a strong enough stomach.

Is the pool a permanent fixture or just a fancy paddling pool? Can you drain it yourself? I think yes, all water needs to be gone and the pool thoroughly cleaned, including any filtration system. But whether this is a job you can do yourself depends on your answer to the type of pool.

Just fish it out. Cover your arms in binbags and tape them shut at the shoulders. Put animal bits in another binbag. Empty pool. Clean. Fill. Loads of chemicals.

I really hope that is a lesson for you in keeping it securely covered! Why would the council come and clean out your pool 🤣 and you clearly need a lesson in pool safety especially since you can’t see what goes on in it.

I contacted the council because they remove dead animals from gardens for sanitation reasons. They would have taken it had it not been in the pool, they were unable to scoop it out (hence me saying I don't think I could even physically do it myself).

Could you drain the pool, leave the lid of so the animal remains dry out a bit and then get the council to come back when they can climb into the pool and remove it without having to use a net. Then obviously clean and disinfect the pool thoroughly afterwards?

@oohnicevase

Just scoop it out and put it in the woods or similar .. it won't hurt you! Then drain the pool and clean it ! 🤷‍♀️

Yep, I'd do this. I'd drag someone in the help - even if it's just to stand on the sidelines to make me laugh while I do it.

Peg on your nose for the smell.

I suspect I'd do something like get the largest, strongest bin bag I can find. Puncture a few small holes in the bottom for drainage and then, essentially, push the corpse into the bag in the pool. Tie the bag and use it to drag the body to it's final resting place.

It seems much easier to drag a dead animal that you cannot see (because ti's inside a bag) that have to keep grabbing hold of a mushy leg

I'm so confused.

How do you normally empty the pool?

Empty it as normal. Then lift it out using gloves and bags as suggested, or the net. Then dispose of it.

Then clean the pool and refill, or cover and leave empty if not using it.

Surely it will be easier to get it out when empty?

I don't understand how to grown adults could not get it out. Unless it was the movement of the water or something like that.

Or stick a post on Facebook asking for help as others have said. Better than nothing.

That's a possibility I hadn't considered although I think then it would be too low down for the council workers to reach...plus I don't know if they will come back out again having been once?

I dont think I could remove it, I'm far too sickly and I would be scared. That's so grim. I'd just pay the 400 it would be worth it..

@SaintWilfred .. I'm a country girl , wouldn't faze me in the slightest. 🤷‍♀️

The council workers said it would not fit in the (large) net. which is what concerns me as to it's size. I don't know how long it has been in there. They were 2 strapping blokes who remove animals and all sorts for a living, so I really feel it is beyond me on my own to do.

@oohnicevase same.