Buzz
It may sound like a bizarre tale, but it's a common reality—creatures frequently emerge from toilets. Stories of animals infiltrating our most vulnerable spaces are enough to trigger deep-seated terror. Plumbing, by its very nature, connects to the dark underworld of the sewers. Not just snakes, rats, and spiders, but seals, opossums, squirrels, and even kangaroos have caused panic in unsuspecting bathrooms. And on occasion, these creatures don't just appear—they strike.
10. Cork Rat Assault
In April 2016, a rat in a toilet attacked an elderly Irish man in his home in Middleton. He was rushed to County Cork Hospital after suffering bites on his backside. A plumber later found a broken pipe nearby, likely the point of entry. The incident sparked widespread panic. Following recent floods, Cork has experienced a severe rat infestation. Some have suggested pouring poison into the sewer system, but this could risk contaminating the local water supply. Homeowners have been advised to always keep their toilet seats down when not in use.
Rats often swim up toilets with alarming regularity. While they can't scale the steep sides of pipes, apartments on the ground floor and in basements often have pipes with horizontal or gently sloping angles, which make it easier for them to enter. Even penthouses are at risk. A janitor shared that every toilet rat he’s encountered has been in top-floor units, likely entering through pipes connected to the roof.
9. Penis-Munching Python
In May 2016, a 10-foot python slithered up a toilet and bit a Thai man’s penis. When emergency responders arrived at the scene in Chachoengsao Province, they found the snake’s head trapped behind the bathroom door, with the rest of its body stuck in the toilet. They had to dismantle the commode to rescue the serpent. Atthaporn Boonmakchuay, 38, was rushed to Chularat Hospital. Both he and the snake survived the ordeal.
One rescue worker reported that he had seen many snakes in toilets, but never one that targeted genitalia. Boonmakchuay explained that he had checked the toilet bowl before sitting down, but when he grabbed the python’s neck to stop it from attacking, he thought, “At first I thought my penis was gone.” He was able to pry open the snake’s jaws, while his wife and a neighbor covered the snake’s head with a plastic bag. The snake was later released into the wild.
8. Toilet Paper–Loving Kangaroo
In September 2016, an Australian man captured footage of a kangaroo munching on toilet paper in a public restroom on Dreamland Island. David Croft, a kangaroo expert from the University of New South Wales, suggested the animal was drawn to the cool environment of the bathroom. The restroom provided not just shade but also water—and plenty of fiber. Croft explained that kangaroos “often eat cardboard boxes, so toilet paper isn’t too different and may be a softer alternative.” However, he clarified that toilet paper “wouldn’t be the kangaroo's first food choice.”
A month later, the same kangaroo was seen again eating toilet paper. In both videos, the kangaroo seemed completely unconcerned by the presence of humans. Dreamland Island, a popular tourist destination, is home to marsupials that have likely become accustomed to human visitors. Some believe the kangaroo has developed an “addiction” to the easy snack of toilet paper.
7. The Great Outdoors
In May 2012, a black bear attacked a Canadian outdoorsman in an outhouse near Ontario's Dunbar Lake. Gord Shurvell, 65, had left the door open to enjoy the view when the bear struck. Shurvell fought back by kicking the bear, but the creature managed to grab his pants. When reporters asked if the bear scared the (expletive) out of him, Shurvell humorously replied, “It was already gone!”
Armed with only toilet paper as a defense, Shurvell was pulled by the arm into the forest. His friend Daniel Alexander, hearing the commotion, grabbed a gun and, with a lucky shot, killed the bear.
Shurvell was quickly transported to Sioux Lookout Hospital, where doctors treated him for a puncture wound to the back of his head, along with several lacerations across his upper body and arms. After the ordeal, Shurvell survived and underwent three rabies treatments. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Next time, I’ll probably put up with the stench and close the door.”
6. The Unluckiest Man In Australia
In September 2016, a spider bit a particular Australian man on the penis for the second time that year. The incident occurred while the 21-year-old was using a portable toilet on a construction site in Sydney. Jordan, whose last name remains unknown, recognized the familiar sting. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. His first encounter with the same spider happened in April, also inside a portable toilet.
Jordan was hesitant to use portable toilets after his earlier experiences. However, he explained, “The toilets were cleaned that day, and I thought it was my chance to use one.” He checked both seats but found nothing. He has no idea which spider bit him, though he was treated with redback spider antivenom. Redbacks, closely related to the black widow, look strikingly similar. More than 2,000 Australians are bitten by this common spider each year. Still, being bitten twice on the penis within a year is incredibly unlucky.
5. Tampa Toilet Frogs
In 2016, Tampa Bay residents experienced a series of toilet frog invasions. According to local resident Marley Mills, it happened seven times in just two months. Every member of her family had encountered frogs in their commodes. Plumber James Greco explained that the plumbing vent pipe serves as a “welcome mat” for amphibians. They enter looking for food or shelter and often get trapped. He suggests using chicken wire to prevent such invaders.
Frogs can enter through sewer openings or slip into the plumbing system through cracks. They are more likely to get inside the house through other means before finding their way into the toilet. Sometimes, they fall through vent pipes from the roof, where they gather to warm up. Journalist Mark Douglas suggests that faulty paving jobs could explain the influx of toilet frogs. Despite $2 million in road repairs, he claims that Tampa is riddled with potholes that breed tadpoles.
4. Sammy The Seal
In July 2016, residents of Tasmania were surprised to find a seal napping in a public restroom. Named “Sammy the Seal,” the 265-pound male Australian fur seal was discovered sound asleep in a stall within the ladies’ room at Mersey Vale Cemetery in Davenport, located in the northern part of the state. Rescue workers successfully relocated Sammy to a nearby waterway, and the Tasmanian toilet seal was free to swim again.
Australian fur seals are common around Tasmania, especially in the Bass Strait that separates the island state from the mainland. These seals frequently find themselves as unexpected visitors in backyards and paddocks. Experts believe Sammy swam up nearby Horsehead Creek before entering the cemetery. Parks and Wildlife personnel had to sedate Sammy to move him safely. Initially, the curious seal was confined to the stall to avoid any negative encounters with humans. Prompt action was needed to ensure his well-being.
3. Arlington Anaconda
In January, the Animal Welfare League discovered a 4-foot-long anaconda coiled in the toilet of an apartment in Arlington, VA. The snake was a juvenile, though adults can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh over 100 pounds. If not properly socialized, they can become very dangerous. Their natural habitat includes wet areas like swamps and marshes, which may explain why it was drawn to the toilet. While anacondas are not poisonous, they are powerful constrictors, capable of crushing their prey.
Chelsea Lindsey from the Animal Welfare League suspects that someone in the building owned the snake. If not secured properly, these reptiles can easily escape. Another possibility is that the snake was abandoned in the building. It likely ventured into the sewage system while searching for food like mice or rats. Keeping anacondas as pets is illegal. “They get very large,” Lindsey warned. “The average person is not going to be able to handle a snake like this.”
2. Mississippi Toilet Mystery
On September 18, 2015, a couple returning from their honeymoon made a shocking discovery in the toilet of their Clinton, Mississippi home. Ronald Morris, the homeowner, described the creature as a “big brown mass with ears and whiskers...it was very shocking.” Some believe it was a squirrel, while others insist it was a rat.
Local plumbers speculate that the animal became trapped in the toilet bowl and was poisoned while searching for fresh water. Richard Parker of Skeen Plumbing & Gas explained how easy it is for these creatures to get inside: “They get wet where the P trap is inside the toilet, which keeps methane gas out...all they need is a quick two-second swim, and they’re in the bowl.” Parker suggests installing a check valve to allow waste to exit without letting critters climb back in.
1. Texas Rattlesnake Infestation
Earlier this month, a Texas family was stunned to find a rattlesnake in the toilet of their Aberdeen home. Young Isaac McFadden discovered a “big clump” in the bowl when he went to use the bathroom, immediately recognizing it as a snake. He told his mother, who returned with a shovel to deal with the unwelcome guest. Nathan Hawkins of Big Country Snake Removal called the find “very unusual,” but not beyond his usual work.
While conducting a routine sweep, Hawkins came across 23 other rattlesnakes around the property. His first stop was the old storm cellar, where he found 13 rattlers huddled together. In the crawl space, he unearthed a den made of old sheet metal, where he removed 10 adults and five babies. Hawkins typically receives 50 to 75 calls daily and noted that 90 percent of the snakebites he responds to happen when someone attempts to harm the snake.
