‘Chunky and strong’: Snake emerges from family’s toilet

Rising spring temperatures are pulling snakes out of brumation (hibernation) to search for food and mates, leading to a surge in backyard sightings and call-outs for wildlife rescuers

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A Sydney family got the shock of their lives when a red-bellied black snake emerged through their toilet, prompting a warning to households as snake activity ramps up with the warmer weather.

The venomous intruder turned up at a home in Rossmore, in Sydney’s southwest, on Monday, with Narellan Snake Catcher Daniel May called in to remove it.

May said the roughly 1.5-metre snake had been seen entering a nearby sewer line before somehow forcing its way through the pipework and into the family’s toilet bowl.

The seasoned snake wrangler said the family had tried to move the reptile on before getting an unpleasant surprise in the bathroom.

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“I think they were trying to chase it away,” May told 7NEWS.com.au, adding the family was “a bit surprised” when it appeared in the toilet bowl.

“It was quite a big, chunky and strong snake, even the pipe he swam up was only about 50mm wide so you got to think it was a pretty tight squeeze for him to get up through there and make his way into the toilet.

“It’s pretty phenomenal actually.”

A Sydney home was visited by a venomous red-bellied black snake after it slithered through a sewerage line and through a toilet. Source: Daniel May/Narellan Snake Catcher

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Despite years of call-outs to homes and businesses across Sydney, May said it was the first time he had personally dealt with a snake entering via a toilet.

“I’ve seen people post about it. You hear about it a lot in the country and stuff like that … but that’s the first time, myself, that I’ve had it happen,” he said.

The bizarre bathroom encounter comes as snake season gets underway across Australia, with rising spring temperatures drawing snakes out of brumation and into backyards, homes and public spaces as they search for food and mates.

May said he was already receiving up to six snake call-outs a day across Sydney and expected that figure to climb to as many as 10 a day in the next few weeks.

The surge in activity isn’t limited to NSW.

Daniel May with the red-bellied black snake. Source: Daniel May/Narellan Snake Catcher

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In Melbourne this week, a snake catcher was called to a childcare centre after a tiger snake was found inside a playroom used by three-year-olds.

May said snakes become far more mobile once they emerge from winter shelter and enter breeding season.

“They do a lot more travelling this time of year,” he said.

“They do a lot of things they usually wouldn’t do, like move through backyards more often.”

He urged families to reduce hiding spots around the home by keeping yards tidy and to take extra care with children and pets.

“If you’re not home, even if you’ve got an outdoor dog, keep them inside as much as possible,” he said.

“I know it’s hard, but if a dog’s house trained, then it’s probably better.”

A tiger snake made it into a childcare centre in Melbourne this week. Source: The Snake Hunter/ Facebook

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If a snake is spotted, May said the safest response is to stay calm, keep your distance and avoid trying to frighten or move it on yourself.

“If you’re not too stressed about it, you’re more than able to just give them space and they’ll just move on pretty quickly,” he said.

“Otherwise, if they do hang around, obviously just call a snake catcher or someone that’s qualified.”