Connecticut police answer panic call after ratsnake turns up in family's bathroom

At home in Connecticut, a family got an unwelcome shock when a ratsnake showed up in an upstairs bathroom.

Unsure who to call, they dialed police, and the responding officers safely removed the snake before releasing it back into the wild.

What happened?

Granby police Officer Nichole Abalan said the call came from a husband who was distressed after noticing a snake in a second-floor bathroom.

"The husband called us in a panic," Abalan said. "He called police because he was like, 'I don't know who else to call.'"

At the house, Abalan and officers Paul Walzak and James Wilkins found the snake wrapped around a child's portable potty, CT Insider reported. It eventually slithered into the bathtub, where it hid underneath.

When the snake started coming back out of the bathroom toward the officers, they were able to catch it. They then took it outdoors, paused for a few photos, and released it in nearby woods.

The animal was an eastern ratsnake. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says that species is the largest snake in the state and is often found in barns and attics hunting rodents.

Why does it matter?

Homes, sheds, attics, and garages can provide warm shelter for wildlife, while human activity can attract rodents and, in turn, rodent-hunting snakes.

Panicked responses can lead to unnecessary harm when people assume every snake is dangerous.

Ratsnakes also play an important role in the ecosystem by eating rodents, even if they sometimes turn up in unwelcome places.

What can I do?

In this case, the officers took the snake out of the home and released it rather than killing it. Abalan said snake-related calls are unusual but not unheard of; she recalled helping remove a snake from a resident's oven.

For homeowners, prevention is often the most practical step. Sealing gaps around foundations, doors, pipes, and vents can make it harder for wildlife to get inside. Keeping hidden rodent activity in the house by storing food securely, cleaning up crumbs, and clearing up clutter in attics or basements can also make a home less attractive to snakes looking for an easy meal to hunt.

If you do find a snake indoors, experts recommend keeping your distance, closing off the area if possible, and contacting the appropriate local resource, such as animal control, a wildlife professional, or nonemergency authorities if you are unsure what to do. Trying to grab a snake yourself can increase the risk for you and other people around.

"They were a very thankful family," Abalan said. "Typically this isn't (a police call), but I'm not going to leave somebody hanging if it's something I can do."

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