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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, one plumber has added another item to the checklist: looking out for animals that might climb into the toilet if the pipes aren’t working. He’s up to the task.
Mike Flook, a plumbing expert from MyBuilder.comHe points out that it is not unusual for rats to get into bathrooms: they are good swimmers.
But they are far from the only members of the animal kingdom capable of entering the toilet bowl.
And some are life-threatening.
Read on to see the full list, which includes creatures from the UK and beyond.
Rats can hold their breath for up to three minutes and have the strength to open the lid of a closed toilet.
Snakes are most at risk during the summer, when they may be searching for water.
In the United Kingdom
rats
Mike says: ‘Rats are abundant in the sewers and they are good swimmers. They can easily reach the toilet bowl in the absence of a check valve. Rats have flexible ribcages and are very athletic, able to climb quickly and contort in small spaces. They can also hold their breath for up to three minutes and are experts at finding air pockets in U-bends. Additionally, rats also have the strength to lift the lid of a closed toilet, so closing the lid won’t stop these guests. no guests enter your house.’
snakes
Mike says: ‘While native (UK) snakes are not a problem, there are snakes in the sewers, often pets that have escaped or abandoned. It is very unlikely that a snake will find its way to the toilet, but it has happened, and it is not at all uncommon in some countries. Snakes are attracted to wherever their prey goes (rats are an obvious one) and therefore may end up following them to the toilet. They can also be attracted when they are thirsty, so the summer months are riskier, when water is harder to find.’
Frogs
Mike says: ‘Frog spawn can be deposited in sewers and recently (2020) the UK experienced a mass invasion of frogs in the toilets of a Derbyshire town. Frogs can easily navigate pipes because they are amphibians and, although they are not harmful, they are not desirable bathroom guests. A non-return valve would solve this possible viscous problem.’
Spiders
Mike says: ‘Although we don’t have many poisonous spiders in the UK, for arachnophobes, a spider in the toilet bowl is still an unpleasant surprise. A non-return valve won’t stop spiders as they are small enough to pass through, but cleaning the bowl with a citrus product may do the trick.’
Across the globe
Cockroaches
Mike says: ‘Cockroaches can transmit disease as they carry large amounts of bacteria. They are attracted to bathrooms as they thrive in warm, humid environments. Keeping the toilet clean is a good way to deter them, and a non-return valve will prevent them from using the pipes to access them.’
possums
Mike says: ‘While they won’t cause you any harm, possums are pests and not house guests. They are tempted by the toilet because of the food scraps they might eat and, like rats, they can swim well and hold their breath for a long time. Non-return valves will definitely solve the problem.’
Possums are ‘tempted’ by the bathroom because they are hungry for food waste, says Mike
Scorpions
Mike says: ‘Scorpions can survive underwater for a long time and are used to hunting in aquatic areas. They are also excellent climbers, so they can traverse U-shaped curves without any problem. Pouring bleach down the toilet can help prevent scorpions from invading the pipes, as well as keeping the toilet clean.’
lizards
Mike says: ‘Smaller insects can attract lizards to the toilet, and you can largely stop them with a non-return valve. Areas with a large lizard population are most at risk, especially in summer when they are attracted to water. Keeping your toilet bowl as clean as possible will deter the insects that attract lizards, so keep it sparkling to help keep lizards away.’
poisonous snakes
Mike says: ‘It’s not uncommon for poisonous snakes to appear in toilets. Snakes are great swimmers and are attracted to rats. If you’re travelling to a country where there are poisonous snakes, be sure to check the toilet bowl before you sit down!’
Poisonous spiders
Mike says: ‘In countries with dangerous spiders, such as Australia, it’s important to check the toilet for arachnids before you sit down. Spiders don’t necessarily come in through drains – they also get in through windows and cracks in brickwork – so there’s no easy way to keep them away. Some spiders can live underwater for over 24 hours, so even if they look drowned, be careful.’
