A trip through a narrow sewer pipe left a roughly 5-foot venomous snake struggling to survive before an Australian family discovered the animal in their toilet.
Here's what to know
The family in Rossmore, southwest Sydney, contacted Daniel May of Narellan Snake Catcher after finding a red-bellied black snake in their bathroom, according to 7NEWS.
At only about 2 inches wide, the pipe offered the large reptile little room to swim. Someone had spotted it entering a nearby sewerage line before it reached the toilet.
"It's pretty phenomenal actually," May told 7NEWS.
Despite years of removing snakes and other reptiles from Sydney homes and businesses, May said he had never encountered one that had arrived through a toilet.
The family was "a bit surprised," he said. But the journey had taken a serious toll on the animal, which "looked like it was going to die."
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More background
"I think they were trying to chase it away," May explained, though he hadn't confirmed what led the animal into the sewer.
The discovery came as Sydney headed toward summer, bringing increased reptile activity. May told 7NEWS that daily snake-removal requests had reached six and expected that number to hit 10.
As snakes emerge from winter hibernation and enter breeding season, they travel farther to find mates, sometimes passing through backyards along the way.
What can be done?
May typically catches snakes and promptly relocates them somewhere safe, away from people. However, in this case, the animal needed time to recover.
Rather than releasing it immediately, May took the snake into his care. He and his wife spent a couple of days observing it, checking for injuries and confirming it had regained its strength before releasing it as planned.
To reduce the likelihood of encounters, May recommended keeping yards clean, as snakes seek shaded places to rest and regulate their temperature.
He also urged families to protect children and pets, including keeping house-trained dogs indoors as much as possible when nobody is home.
If a snake appears, May advised staying calm, avoiding intimidation, and giving it space to leave rather than chasing it away.
"Otherwise, if they do hang around, obviously just call a snake catcher or someone that's qualified," May said.
Where can I learn more?
Snakes have appeared in toilets and other unexpected spots in homes worldwide. These stories describe encounters in India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Georgia, and Australia.
• In India, rescuers broke open a toilet seat to uncover a cobra hiding inside.
• In South Africa, a handler filmed a large toilet snake before it slipped into pipes.
• A UK pensioner trying to flush discovered a 3-foot snake coiled underneath the toilet rim.
• A Georgia homeowner found a copperhead in the bathroom and removed it with a snake grabber.
• In Australia, an eastern brown snake was found behind a pet mouse cage.
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