Backyard swimming pools can be hazardous to pets and wildlife, warns the Humane Society of the United States.

There are more than 8 million swimming pools in the United States, and an estimated 1 of every 1,027 pets drown in pools each year, statistics from the society indicated. Yet, this tragic figure doesn't account for the tens of thousands of wild animals that suffer the same fate. All types of animals -- skunks, mice, ducks, fledgling birds, lizards, chipmunks, frogs and snakes -- can get caught in a pool with no lifeline or firm footing. Especially at risk are the wild animal babies that are curious and fall in.

"We hear about pool drownings through our wildlife hotline," said Laura Simon, field director for the HSUS' urban wildlife program, "It's tragic, because these events are preventable."

A few simple pool precautions can dramatically lower the risk of pets and wildlife drowning in pools. For more tips on living humanely with wild animals, visit www.humanesociety.org. Here are some tips from the HSUS:

• • Don't leave pets unsupervised in a yard with a pool.

• • When building a pool, design lounge ledges along the sides. These usually are just below the water's surface and allow animals shallow areas from which to drink and an easy escape route from the water.

• • Install a fence around the pool to keep out other animals.

• • Install one or more water-exit devices. Examples include: the Skamper-Ramp (www.skamper-ramp.com) or Frog Log (www.froglog.us). These buoyant devices are placed in the water along the pool's edge and allow animals to get out on their own. Because of their white color they are highly visible to animals.

• • Disperse knotted nylon ropes at strategic locations along the sides. Make sure the knot is at the water's surface so the animal can more easily climb out. This technique works only for climbing animals such as raccoons, mice and squirrels.