These creatures can enter through the pipes of your toilet, and if you happen to be using it at that moment…
1. Snakes
Wet toilet pipes are very attractive to snakes.
Snakes prefer cool, damp, and dark places, which is why your toilet pipes can be very appealing to them. In fact, there are two ways that snakes can enter your toilet, especially the bowl.
The first is through an opening in your home, such as an open window or sliding door. During particularly hot and dry summers, snakes will seek water, and the toilet is the ideal place for them to enter.
The second way snakes can get into the toilet is through a sewer vent. Sewers can be a hiding place for rats and sewer rats. Snakes will crawl into the sewer looking for food. They can slither through the sewers and accidentally navigate their way to your toilet.
The occurrence of snakes entering toilets is quite rare. Most snake handlers catch snakes from backyards or bedrooms, not from toilets. However, hot weather can cause snakes to venture out more frequently, so their appearances may increase if you do not implement preventive measures to keep them out of your home.
2. Rats
Rats often pursue food, and our pipes can be very attractive to them.
National Geographic conducted an experiment to verify a very common urban rumor about rats. These rodents are said to be able to navigate through long, convoluted drainage pipes and come out through the toilet into homes. Rats are excellent swimmers and can even hold their breath underwater for up to three minutes. Nature has endowed rats with remarkable flexibility, allowing them to squeeze through any opening that their small heads can fit through.
Like snakes, rats often pursue food, and our pipes can be very attractive to them. In homes where the toilet and waste are in the same pipe, rats are more likely to find their way in. Because of their flexible bone structure, they can swim through pipes and hold their breath for several minutes before reaching your toilet.
The idea of rats entering homes through drainage pipes is not a myth; it is real. Even in remote places like the small town of Portland, Oregon, authorities report receiving calls from residents complaining about rats in their toilets each month, making it easy to imagine the rodent infestations in larger urban areas!
3. Lizards
Lizards love water and seek food wherever they can.
In the Southwestern United States, it is quite common for lizards to enter through toilet pipes. This is because these creatures love water and seek food wherever they can find it. Crickets and other insects (like flies) can often be found in toilet pipes if they are not kept clean.
4. Possums
Possums can enter your toilet in a similar way to rats.
In 2008, a man in Australia was in his bathroom when he saw the water in the toilet overflow. Moments later, a possum appeared, and this was not the first time this had happened. On another occasion, a woman found a dead possum in her toilet. These unusual guests are actually excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for a long time, which is why they can enter your toilet in a similar manner to rats.
5. How to Prevent and Respond to These Incidents
Keep your toilet clean: This may seem obvious, but you really need to clean your toilet regularly and keep it tidy. Disinfectant cleaners are perfect for this job, and you can also use white vinegar or salt. You can also use one of those cleaners that cling to the sides of the bowl and emit a pleasant fragrance every time you flush.
Keep it dry: Most pests prefer high humidity, which is why they will be attracted to damp bathroom floors. Therefore, it is important to remove any standing water from the sink or floor after showering. If you notice any leaks in your plumbing system, call a technician immediately to fix them.
Clean the pipes naturally: You can add a mixture of sugar, water, vinegar, and 5-10 drops of dish soap into a bottle. Mix all these together and pour them down your toilet or bathroom sink. You can also pour some boiling water into the toilet.
Call a pest control company: If you do not have the time or courage to deal with these animals yourself when they appear in your toilet, call in professionals and let them use their heavy-duty cleaners. Afterward, you can occasionally flush a cleaning solution down the drain to ensure they do not climb up to the toilet.
