Reptile relaxation: snake found resting in Queensland loo

This Queenslander didn’t expect to see this when they went to the bathroom.

Not many people expect to find a snake in their toilet – but it’s much more common than you think.

A suburban Queensland homeowner found themselves in that exact situation yesterday morning, calling Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast for assistance.

Bryce Lockett from the service came quickly to assist, and posted a video of the reptile on Facebook shortly afterwards.

“This morning’s call out for a coastal carpet python who found himself very comfortable in this resident’s toilet bowl,” Mr Lockett wrote.

Snake Catchers from Queensland find a snake taking a break in a local resident's loo. Picture: Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast

The coastal carpet python is non-venomous, but its bites can cause lacerations and punctures in humans. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“My worst nightmare,” several users commented.

“Keeping cool in the hot weather,” one said. “I don’t remember eating that,” another joked.

One user shared a picture of a snake they had found in their shower the week before.

The coastal carpet python is a non-venomous snake, but can grow up to three and a half metres long.

Mr Lockett told news.com.au that this python was about one and a half metres.

“They do try their best to stay out of the way,” he said. “Generally they’re out hunting little rats and mice, and that’s what leads them to these sorts of areas.”

The snake is nocturnal, and mostly hunts rodents and possums. Picture: Mathew Hampton.

Mr Lockett said that snakes get into toilets by crawling through sewage systems in search of prey, which happens more often in rural areas. On average, he encounters toilet snakes “once or twice a month”.

“They’re just little gaps and crevices to them at the time,” he said. “They don’t exactly know where it leads them to. They’re just hunting for their food source. So often is the case where they get into people’s houses accidentally – they don’t want to be there. That’s just not the right habitat for them.”

Snakes can get into your toilet by sliding into sewage cracks in nearby pipes and septic tanks. Picture: Richard Gosling

If you encounter a snake in your house or backyard, Mr Lockett said the best thing to do is get a photo of it, so that snake catchers can identify it and tell you if the snake is dangerous and requires their attention.

“We’re not part of their food chain,” he said, encouraging residents not to try and disturb them. “If we leave them alone, they leave us alone. It’s as simple as that.”