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As if there wasn’t enough to think about when going on holiday, from remembering passports to updating travel insurance and stocking up on foreign currency, a plumber has added another item to the checklist: he’s noting which animals being able to climb onto the toilet if the plumbing is not working. down to the last detail.
Mike Flook, a plumbing expert from MyBuilder.comnotes that it is not uncommon for rats to end up in toilets – they are excellent swimmers.
But they’re far from the only members of the animal kingdom that can get into your toilet bowl.
And some are potentially deadly.
Read on for the full list, featuring animals in the UK and beyond.
Rats can hold their breath for up to three minutes and they have the power to open a closed toilet lid
Snakes pose a greater risk in the summer when they may be searching for water
In the United Kingdom
Rats
Mike says, “Rats are abundant in sewers and are good swimmers. In the absence of a backflow preventer, they can find their way into your toilet bowl quite easily. Rats have flexible rib cages and are very athletic; they can climb quickly and squeeze into small spaces. They can also hold their breath for up to three minutes and are experts at finding air bubbles in U-bends. To top it all off, rats also have the strength to lift a closed toilet lid. So closing the lid won’t stop these intruders from entering your home.”
Snakes
Mike says, “While he is native [UK] snakes are not a problem, there are snakes in the sewers, often escaped or abandoned pets. It is very unlikely that a snake will end up in your toilet, but it has happened and in some countries it is not at all uncommon. Snakes are attracted to wherever their prey goes (rats being an obvious one) and so may end up chasing them into toilets. They can also be attracted when they are thirsty, so the summer months pose a greater risk when water is harder to find.”
Frogs
Mike says: ‘Frog spawn can be deposited in the sewers, and recently (2020) the UK has seen a massive frog invasion of the toilets in a Derbyshire town as a result. Frogs can navigate the pipes easily because they are amphibious, and although they are not harmful, they are not desirable bathroom guests. A non-return valve would solve this potential slimy problem.’
Spiders
Mike says: ‘Although we don’t have many poisonous spiders in the UK, a spider in the toilet bowl is still a nasty shock for the arachnophobes among us. A check valve won’t stop spiders because they’re small enough to get through, but cleaning your toilet with a citrus product can do the trick.’
Over the world
Cockroaches
Mike says, “Cockroaches can spread disease because they carry large amounts of bacteria. They are attracted to bathrooms because they thrive in warm, moist environments. Keeping your toilet clean is a good way to deter them, and a backflow preventer will keep them from using the pipes to gain access.”
Opossums
Mike says: ‘Although they won’t harm you, possums are pests and not house guests. They are tempted by the toilet because of all the food they could eat, and like rats, they are good swimmers and can hold their breath for long periods of time. Check valves certainly solve the problem.’
Possums are ‘tempted’ to the toilet because they are hungry for food waste, says Mike
Scorpios
Mike says, “Scorpions can survive underwater for a very long time and are used to hunting in watery areas. They are also great climbers, so they can do U-turns without any problems. Pouring bleach down the toilet bowl can help prevent scorpions from entering the pipes and keep your toilet clean.”
Lizards
Mike says: ‘Lizards can be attracted to the toilet by smaller insects and can be largely stopped with a backflow preventer. Areas with a large population of lizards are at greatest risk, especially in the summer when they are attracted to the water. Keeping your toilet bowl as clean as possible will help keep the insects that attract lizards away, so make sure it sparkles to keep lizards away.’
Poisonous snakes
Mike says: ‘It’s not unusual for venomous snakes to appear in toilets. Snakes are great swimmers and are attracted to rats. If you travel to a country where poisonous snakes are found, check the toilet bowl before you sit down!’
Poisonous spiders
Mike says: ‘In countries with dangerous spiders – like Australia – it is important to check your toilet bowl for arachnids before you sit down. Spiders don’t necessarily come in through drains, they also come in through windows and cracks in bricks, so there is no easy way to keep them away. Some spiders can live underwater for more than 24 hours, so be careful even if they look drowned.’
