Okolona, KY — It’s the stuff of urban legends, but this week it was real. We responded to a home in Okolona where a resident discovered a 4-foot Black Rat Snake in their toilet bowl.

The snake likely entered the home’s plumbing system through the roof vent stack, which was missing its protective screen. Rat snakes are excellent climbers and often hunt on rooftops.

Prevention: Ensure all plumbing vent pipes on your roof are covered with hardware cloth or a specialized vent cap to prevent snakes and rodents from entering your sewer lines.

How Does This Happen?

It seems impossible, but the path is actually quite direct.

1. The Roof: Gray Ratsnakes (often called Black Rat Snakes) are arboreal. They easily climb trees or brick walls to reach the roof, usually hunting for birds, squirrels, or mice.
2. The Vent Stack: Plumbing systems have vent pipes that stick out of the roof to allow sewer gases to escape and air to enter. If these pipes are uncapped, they look like a dark hole—inviting to a snake seeking shelter or chasing prey.
3. The Fall: The snake enters the pipe. The inside is smooth PVC or cast iron. Once they slide down, they often cannot climb back up.
4. The Plumbing Maze: The snake follows the pipe down. Eventually, it reaches a bend that leads to the toilet.
5. The Air Pocket: The snake follows the air and emerges in the toilet bowl, which has an air pocket above the water.

Is It Dangerous?

In this case, the snake was a Gray Ratsnake, which is non-venomous and harmless to humans (though terrifying to find in your bathroom). However, the shock of the discovery is real!

Prevention is Simple

This entire scenario can be prevented with a $20 fix.

• Install Vent Screens: Install a “mushroom cap” or a simple piece of 1/4-inch hardware cloth (steel mesh) over the plumbing vent pipes on your roof. Secure it with a hose clamp.
• Check Trees: Trim tree branches back 6-8 feet from your roofline to make it harder for snakes (and squirrels/raccoons) to get on the roof in the first place.

If you find a snake in your home—in the toilet or otherwise—close the door, put a towel under the gap, and call Critter Removal of Louisville. We will safely remove the intruder and help you seal your home against future surprises.