Locks and Door Openers

For the safety of your children, pets, and personal belongings, as well as our property, please keep windows and doors locked when not in use. This includes the front door, garage door, side garage door, pool bathroom door, great room deck door, and master bedroom deck door, as well as all windows.

Garage door openers go in the left drawer of the chest on the “Cape Coral” wall. Please be sure to return them after use so they are not forgotten in your rental vehicle or bag. Always keep door openers out of reach of children and pets.

Extinguishers and Detectors

We have two fire extinguishers at the bottom of the pantry closet next to the laundry room. Please keep one near the kitchen at all times. The second extinguisher may be moved to a location of your choosing such as by the grill or in a bedroom if you would prefer; please be sure to return it to its location upon your departure if you do choose to place it elsewhere.

Our house is equipped with smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector for your safety. Please do not disable these in any way, and let us know right away if any batteries need replacing during your stay.

Pool and Floats Safety

We have a pool fence available for the safety of your children, pets, and/or any other guests who are at a higher risk of falling into the pool; we recommend putting it up immediately if this description applies to anyone in your party. The pool fence is stored in the garage when not in use to prevent damage. The poles of the fence will fit securely into the holes in the lanai surrounding the pool area. To remove the pool fence once already up, pull directly upward on each pole to remove it with care not to damage the screening, and place back in the garage so it is out of the way.

We have a pool float air pump in the garage for your use. Please use with care of the manufacturer’s instructions and do not allow children of any age to operate. Do not run for more than 2 minutes continuously to avoid overheating the pump.

Never leave children, pets, or anyone who is at risk of falling into the pool or canal unattended in the pool, on the lanai, or outside to minimize risk of drowning. Please do not use the pool alone, especially if you cannot swim and/or are under the influence of alcohol or medications that may make you drowsy.

Use pool toys and floats with caution and only as intended by the manufacturer. Floats provided are not replacements for life preservers and should not be used as such. Prevent any use of these that could result in suffocation or other injury.

Lanai/pool area and grassy areas near the canal are not suitable for running, horseplay, or other activities that could result in falling into the water or injuring oneself otherwise.

Cupboard Locks and Outlet Covers

Cupboard locks are available for your use to prevent children, pets, and others from accessing chemicals/cleaners, pots/pans, and any other items that could cause them harm. Locks are located in the right drawer of the chest on the “Cape Coral” wall. Please replace to drawer after use upon your checkout.

Outlet covers are also available for your use to protect your children, pets, and others from hurting themselves in an outlet. Covers are also located in the right drawer of the chest on the “Cape Coral” wall. Please replace to drawer after use.

Home Décor and Other Dangers

If you have brought children and/or pets with you on your stay, we would recommend moving any décor within reach to a safer location during your stay to avoid any danger to your children and/or pets as well as any damages to our property. This includes decorative glass jars and bottles, floral arrangements, and baskets of shells and other decorative items that may be tempting to them. We simply ask that you return them to their previous locations upon checkout.

We also recommend that you ensure your child or pet cannot access our guest battery stash (located in the right drawer in the chest on the “Cape Coral” wall), drawers with silverware and knives, any countertop items such as small appliances or the spice rack, or anything else that you feel may put them at risk.

Wildlife and Insect Safety

During your stay in Cape Coral, you may see or encounter different types of animals and insects, some of which you are not familiar with. Most pose no threat to you whether on land or in the canal, and some are enjoyable to watch at a distance. However, we recommend against trying to touch, capture, or feed any of these species regardless. These animals include dolphins, manatees, egrets/herons/other birds, possums, raccoons, squirrels, geckos, turtles, frogs, and domesticated pets.

We recommend taking extra care to avoid the following: snakes, armadillos, coyotes, alligators, and crocodiles. We have never seen any of these animals on our property, however, it does not mean you might not see them here or elsewhere during your stay in Florida. There are 4 known species of venomous snakes in Southwest Florida including the eastern diamond rattlesnake, the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, the Florida cottonmouth, and the eastern coral snake; as snakes are difficult to identify until close enough for danger, we recommend avoiding all of them. Armadillos, though cute, are known to carry, and at times transmit, serious infectious diseases including leprosy. Coyotes, while not usually a threat to adult humans, can still attack if feeling threatened and pose a greater risk to small children and pets.

Southwestern Florida, particularly the Everglades, is the only place in the world in which alligators and crocodiles coexist! With our close proximity to the Everglades, it isn’t unheard of for either species to be seen in the area. Crocodiles prefer saltwater and alligators prefer freshwater, but both are also known to live in the brackish waters (a mixture of salt and fresh water) that are common in our 400 miles of canal ways in Cape Coral. If you do see a crocodile or alligator, first and foremost, do NOT try to get closer to it, even for a photo or video. Do not try to feed it, provoke it, or harm it—all of these behaviors are illegal unless in the case of the unlikely event you are protecting yourself from an attack. In most cases, these creatures will not attack humans as prey, though pets and small children are at a greater risk. It is best not to take the chance and remain aware of your surroundings at all times, never leaving children and pets unattended, especially near water. If you do see an alligator or crocodile nearby, distance yourself and call the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223 and/or myself at (563) 590-7632 to make sure the situation is properly handled.

Unfortunately, Southwest Florida is known for its insects. Fortunately, we have great pest control in our house and a screened in lanai for spending time outdoors! We also provide bug spray for your skin (located in bathroom cupboards) and have pest control sprays under the kitchen sink in case you encounter any pesky insects while enjoying time outdoors. When outdoors, whether at our property, the beach, or anywhere else, pay notice to ward off mosquitoes/gnats with bug spray, and avoid spiders, wasps, fire ants, palmetto bugs, and other large insects to prevent painful bites and stings, allergic reactions, and potential transmission of disease.