A Georgia homeowner got an unwelcome surprise after finding what commenters later identified as a venomous Eastern copperhead in their bathroom.
In a thread in r/whatsthissnake, the resident said they had already used a snake grabber to relocate the animal to the woods, summing the encounter up as: "Uninvited, not welcome!"
Here's what to know
Users in the comments suggested the snake was an Eastern copperhead, a venomous species.
"Eastern copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix," one commenter replied.
Although the original poster described it as "only about 2 ft long, so pretty small," the user above indicated that it was "a pretty typical length for one."
Another commenter joked that it was "a really well fed copperhead at that!"
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The subreddit's snake-identification bot u/SEB-PHYLOBOT chimed in with further information.
"Eastern Copperheads are venomous but usually only bite humans or pets in self-defense. As with many blotched snakes, their first line of defense is to freeze in place or flee."
More background
In the comment, u/SEB-PHYLOBOT noted that adult copperheads "live in a range of habitats, from terrestrial to semi-aquatic, including rocky, forested hillsides and wetlands" and "can also be found within cities where wooded areas are present, such as city parks."
The BBC published an in-depth look at how closer overlap between people and wildlife can increase these kinds of encounters.
In a comment, the original poster reported having spotted "lots of little toads around and tons of skinks this summer" in the area where the snake was found.
"Fewer toads and skinks when Mr or Miss Copperhead was through with them," another user quipped.
u/SEB-PHYLOBOT added that venomous snakes "are not looking to harm people."
What can be done?
For snakes found around a home, u/SEB-PHYLOBOT observed that "a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along."
The same comment warned: "Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios."
On snakebites, u/SEB-PHYLOBOT advised people to stay calm, remove constricting clothes and jewelry, and contact emergency services or arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite.
"A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media," the bot added.
"As a 70 year old woman I don't appreciate them in the house!" the original poster admitted.
Her fellow Redditors assured her they were glad they could assist in identifying the snake.
"Very happy to help!! Hopefully you won't have anymore uninvited guests," one said.
Where can I learn more?
A snake in the bathroom is alarming, but this was not an isolated case. These articles examine how snakes are getting into homes from the Mid-South to Arkansas, Florida, and beyond — and how residents respond when an unexpected visitor shows up indoors.
• In the Mid-South, small openings are letting them into homes as snake calls climb 50%.
• In Arkansas, snakes taking over vacant houses showed how quickly indoor encounters can multiply.
• At one homeowner's property, a massive snake in the yard slipped straight into the house.
• In Florida, residents made alarming discoveries in their homes as invasive pythons spread.
• In Australia, a snake catcher said they were "sick and tired" after another venomous snake killing.
They also help explain why experts stress prevention, careful removal, and keeping your distance. For anyone rattled by an "uninvited" bathroom guest, the bigger takeaway is that these encounters are playing out in plenty of other places, too.
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