As if there’s not 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 – noting which animals can climb up the toilet if the plumbing isn’t up to scratch.
Mike Flook, a plumbing expert from MyBuilder.com, notes that it’s not uncommon for rats to make their way into toilets – they are able swimmers.
But they are far from the only members of the animal kingdom capable of entering your toilet bowl.
And some are potentially deadly.
Read on for the full list, which covers creatures in the UK – and beyond.
Rats can hold their breath for up to three minutes and they have the strength to open a closed toilet lid
Snakes are more of a risk during the summer when they could be looking for water
In the UK
Rats
Mike says: ‘Rats are abundant in sewers and are good swimmers. They are quite easily able to find their way into your toilet bowl in the absence of a non-return valve. Rats have flexible ribcages and are very athletic, able to climb rapidly and contort themselves into small spaces. They can also hold their breath for up to three minutes, and are expert at finding air pockets in the U-bends. To top this off, rats also have the strength to lift a closed toilet lid – so closing your lid won’t stop these uninvited guests entering your home.’
Snakes
Mike says: ‘While native [UK] snakes are not a problem, there are snakes in the sewers, often escaped or abandoned pets. It’s highly unlikely that a snake will find its way into your toilet, but it has happened, and it is not at all uncommon in some countries. Snakes are attracted to wherever prey goes – rats being an obvious one – and so can end up following them up toilets. They also can be attracted when they are thirsty, so summer months are more of a risk when water is harder to find.’
Frogs
Mike says: ‘Frogspawn can be laid in the sewers, and recently (2020) the UK experienced a mass frog invasion in toilets of a Derbyshire town as a result. Frogs can navigate the pipes easily due to being amphibious, and while not harmful, are not desirable bathroom guests. A non-return valve would solve this potential slimy problem.’
Spiders
Mike says: ‘While we don’t have many poisonous spiders in the UK, for the arachnophobes among us, a spider in the toilet bowl is still a nasty shock. A non-return valve won’t stop spiders as they are small enough to get through, but cleaning your bowl with a citrus product may do the trick.’
Across the globe
Cockroaches
Mike says: ‘Cockroaches can spread disease as they carry large amounts of bacteria. They are attracted to bathrooms as they thrive in warm, moist environments. Keeping your toilet clean is a good way to deter them, and a non-return valve will keep them from using the pipes to gain access.’
Possums
Mike says: ‘While they won’t cause you any harm, possums are pests and not house guests. They are tempted by the toilet due to any food waste they could eat, and like rats they can swim well and hold their breath for a long time. Non-return valves will definitely fix the problem.’
Possums are ‘tempted’ by the toilet as they have a hunger for food waste, says Mike
Scorpions
Mike says: ‘Scorpions are able to survive underwater for a very long time, and are used to hunting in watery areas. They are also great climbers, so can navigate U-bends with no problem at all. Pouring bleach down the toilet bowl can help prevent scorpions invading the plumbing, as well as keeping your toilet clean.’
Lizards
Mike says: ‘Lizards can be attracted to the toilet by smaller bugs, and can largely be stopped with a non-return valve. Areas with a large lizard population are most at risk, especially in summer when they are attracted by the water. Keeping your toilet bowl as clean as possible will deter the bugs that attract the lizards, so keep it sparkling to help keep lizards away.’
Venomous snakes
Mike says: ‘It’s not uncommon for venomous snakes to appear in toilets. Snakes are great swimmers and are attracted by the rats. If you are travelling to a country that has venomous snakes, make sure you check the toilet bowl before you take a seat!’
Poisonous spiders
Mike says: ‘In countries with dangerous spiders – such as Australia – it’s important to check your toilet bowl for arachnids before sitting down. Spiders don’t necessarily get in through the drains, they also get in through windows and cracks in bricks, 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 cautious.’
