Pool Era field notes
Critters Around Hill Country Pools, and How to Keep Them Away
Found a scorpion by the skimmer and wondering what else is out there? Frogs, scorpions and the odd snake share the Hill Country with us. Most never cause trouble. A few simple habits keep them away from the pool and the equipment pad.
Below are eight animals that turn up around pools in towns like Boerne, Bandera, Kerrville and New Braunfels. For each one: why it comes near the pool, what to know, and what to do.
The short version.
Check the skimmer before you reach in. Keep the equipment pad clean and dry. Trim plants back from the deck. Call a professional when a venomous animal is involved.
#8
Tree Frogs and Toads
What to expect Harmless.
- Why they are near your poolStanding water and insects bring frogs close to the pool. A pool is a good home for frogs in the warmer months.The Rio Grande chirping frog is the most common visitor. Small, loud and completely harmless. We have scooped out entire family reunions from single skimmer baskets.
- What to knowLots of frogs can be a sign the water needs attention. Test your chlorine and pH.
- What to doFrogs are harmless. Fish them out of the skimmer, relocate them to a garden bed and make sure your water chemistry is balanced. A clean, well-kept pool is less inviting to them.
#7
Striped Bark Scorpion
What to expect Painful sting, rarely serious for healthy adults.
- Why they are near your poolScorpions follow the insects, and pool equipment areas are full of small gaps and dark hiding spots. The striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, is the one we see most around Hill Country pools.Scorpions are nocturnal. They tuck under rocks, landscaping and pool equipment lids during the day, then come out hunting after dark.
- What to knowThe sting is painful and swells. If a child, an older person or anyone with allergies is stung, or a sting causes a strong reaction, get medical care.Scorpions get into pool areas through tiny gaps in your deck and equipment pad.
- What to doSeal cracks and gaps around your pool equipment pad. Keep landscaping trimmed back from the pool deck. Wear gloves when opening equipment housings, especially after dark.Clearing debris and clutter around the pool leaves them fewer places to hide.
#6
Texas Redheaded Centipede
What to expect Painful bite. Leave it alone.
- Why they are near your poolMoisture draws the giant redheaded centipede, Scolopendra heros. It is big, and it is fast.Pool equipment areas, drainage channels and the damp soil around your pool deck create the exact environment they are drawn to. We have pulled them out from under pump housings more times than we would like to count.
- What to knowThe bite is very painful and swells. Leave them alone, and get medical care if a bite causes a strong reaction.
- What to doIf you are finding centipedes around your pool, you likely have a moisture issue near your equipment pad. Improve drainage, clear organic debris from around the pool area and keep storage items off the ground.A dry, clean equipment area helps most.
#5
Texas Brown Tarantula
What to expect Looks scary, mostly harmless.
- Why they are near your poolMale Texas brown tarantulas, Aphonopelma hentzi, wander in search of mates, usually between September and November.[1] Pools, decks and equipment areas are simply in their path.They are big, they are hairy, and they will make you rethink opening your skimmer basket without looking first.
- What to knowTexas Parks & Wildlife magazine says their bite won't kill a person unless they are allergic, but it can feel like a bee sting.[1] The bigger risk is the panic of finding one floating in your pool on a Saturday morning.If you see one walking across your yard, it is almost certainly a male on a mission. He is not interested in you.
- What to doDuring fall months, check your skimmer basket before reaching in. If you find one alive, gently relocate it to a natural area away from the pool.Texas brown tarantulas are beneficial. They eat insects and are an important part of the Hill Country ecosystem.
#4
Brown Recluse Spider
What to expect Venomous. Wear gloves around equipment.
- Why they are near your poolBrown recluse spiders, Loxosceles reclusa, are drawn to dark, cluttered, undisturbed spaces. Pool equipment enclosures, chemical storage sheds and pump housings provide ideal habitat.They are small, shy and avoid contact, which is the problem. You do not see them until you have already reached into their hiding spot.
- What to knowYou can identify them by the violin-shaped marking on their back and their six eyes. Most spiders have eight.The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) says Texas has two venomous spiders, the black widow and the brown recluse. Neither is aggressive, but both will bite when trapped or disturbed.[2]
- What to doWear gloves when servicing pool equipment. Shake out towels, covers and any items stored near the pool. Keep storage areas clean and well-lit. Brown recluse spiders avoid light.If you think you have been bitten, get medical care, or call the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222, day or night.[3]
#3
Black Widow Spider
What to expect Venomous. Know how to spot it.
- Why they are near your poolBlack widows are nocturnal and prefer dark, sheltered areas that are rarely disturbed. Pool equipment areas, especially pump housings and electrical boxes, offer exactly that. Warm, protected and full of insects.We find them under pool pump covers, inside meter boxes, under deck lips and in equipment enclosures.
- What to knowDSHS says the female is jet black with a reddish or yellowish hourglass underneath, and that the venom is a neurotoxin that can cause severe reactions and, in rare cases, death.[2]Get medical care for any suspected black widow bite.
- What to doCheck equipment areas before you reach in. Gloves are a smart habit when you open an equipment pad or a skimmer lid.Clear webbing regularly from pump housings and electrical boxes. Keep the area around your equipment clean and free of clutter that creates hiding spots.
#2
Copperhead
What to expect Venomous. The snake you are most likely to see.
- Why they are near your poolCopperheads, Agkistrodon contortrix, are attracted to rocky areas, wooded bottomlands and the edges of pools. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) says the broadbanded copperhead is widely scattered across central and western Texas.[4]A pool deck holds heat after sunset, which may draw them to the warm surface. They also love landscaping rocks, mulch beds and retaining walls.
- What to doKeep landscaping around your pool trimmed. Remove rock piles, brush and woodpiles near the pool area. Do not walk barefoot around your pool deck after dark during warm months.If you see a copperhead near your pool, do not attempt to handle it. Back away slowly and call local animal control.
#1
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
What to expect Venomous. Back away and call for help.
- Why they are near your poolTPWD calls the western diamondback, Crotalus atrox, the most common and widespread venomous snake in Texas.[4]Rattlesnakes follow their food. Rodents are drawn to pool areas because of water, warmth and insects. Where the mice go, the rattlesnakes follow. Equipment areas with gaps and openings provide shelter.
- What to knowDSHS says 1 to 2 people in Texas die each year from venomous snake bites, that roughly half of venomous bites are dry, with no venom injected, and that snake bites are best treated at a medical facility.[6]If you hear a rattle near your pool, stop moving, locate it and back away slowly.
- What to doKeep your pool equipment area sealed and free of rodent attractants. Trim vegetation around the pool perimeter. Do not stack wood, tools or materials near pool equipment.If you encounter a rattlesnake, do not attempt to kill or relocate it. Call animal control. The best long-term step is removing what draws them: rodents, gaps and clutter at ground level.
Why this matters
Why This Matters for Pool Owners in Hill Country
These encounters are not hypotheticals. They happen in backyards across Boerne, New Braunfels, San Antonio, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, Spring Branch, Bulverde and every Hill Country town in between.
The limestone terrain, the live oaks and the seasonal weather patterns all create an environment where these creatures are part of the landscape.
It is one reason your pool tech matters more than most people think. Pool care means opening equipment housings, reaching into dark spaces and working in backyards where these animals live, often when you are not home.
At Pool Era, the founder supervises the work. We know the terrain and the wildlife, and we know that who you let in your yard matters.
Less inviting to critters
Consistent care makes your pool less inviting to unwanted visitors.
The best defense is consistent, professional maintenance from someone who knows Hill Country. A well-maintained pool area with sealed equipment, trimmed landscaping, proper drainage and balanced chemistry is far less attractive to every creature on this list.
Sources
Where these facts come from
- Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine (Oct. 2024): Did you see a brown tarantula?
- Texas Department of State Health Services: Venomous spiders
- Texas Poison Center Network
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Venomous snake safety
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Southern copperhead
- Texas Department of State Health Services: Venomous snakes
Sources checked October 25, 2026. This page is not medical advice: for any bite or sting, call 911 in an emergency or the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222.
Before you rely on this. This field note is general information, not professional, engineering or legal advice. Every pool and every site is different. What Pool Era does on your project, how and with what warranty, is only what your written agreement says. Local codes and HOA rules change, so check with your city, county or HOA before you rely on anything here. Website terms
