Snake in a toilet: Slithering visitor to Arizona home camps out where homeowner least expects it
TUCSON, Ariz. — Like a scene out of a horror movie, Michelle Lespron returned to her Tucson, Arizona, home to find a snake had set up camp in her toilet.
Nikolaus Kemme, Rattlesnake Solutions via Associated Press
A coachwhip snake found inside a toilet July 16 in a home in Tucson, Ariz.
“I’d been gone for four days and was looking forward to using my own restroom in peace. I lifted up the lid and he or she was curled up,” Lespron said. “Thank God the lid was closed.”
The reptilian run-in happened July 15. But Lespron has been getting messages from family, friends and even people she went to high school with since Rattlesnake Solutions, a Phoenix-based company that removed the snake, recently posted an employee’s video.
The 20-second video shows the snake being pulled out of the toilet bowl and then hissing straight at the camera.
“Everybody has the same reaction: Oh my God, that’s my worst nightmare,” she said.
Other people thought it was a prank video and the snake was a prop. “Even my law partner was like ‘Ha ha. Nice gag,’” Lespron, a personal injury attorney, said.
Lespron says her father tried to wrangle the snake that same night but it slithered away. So, she called Rattlesnake Solutions the next morning.
It took the handler — who Lespron calls “my hero” — three tries to get the black and pink coachwhip snake firmly in his grasp. He was able to wrestle the snake with one hand while capturing it all on his cellphone with the other.
The handler later released the snake, which measured between 3 and 4 feet long, in a natural habitat elsewhere.
Bryan Hughes, the owner of Rattlesnake Solutions, said it wasn’t the first time his staff have seen a coachwhip snake in a home though it’s rare to find reptiles in residences.
Fortunately for Lespron, the species is non-venomous. Still, she was taking no chances.
After her slithery scare, Lespron used her guest bathroom for three weeks before feeling comfortable enough to go back to her own. And she no longer enters the bathroom in the dark, and always lifts the lid ever so slowly.
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesNatural History Museum of Los An
This rare venomous sea snake found slithering on the sand in Newport Beach is one of a growing number of the serpents apparently drawn far north of their usual habitat by the spread of warm ocean temperatures, a biologist says.
The yellow-bellied sea snake discovered near the 18th Street lifeguard tower on Monday was the third report of the species in Southern California since 2015 — and the fifth since 1972, said Greg Pauly, herpetological curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
"Oceans are warming and the species that respond to that change will be those that are the most mobile," Pauly said. "So the big question now is this: Are sea snakes swimming off the coast of Southern California the new normal?"
Sporting short sharp fangs capable of delivering extremely potent venom, the snake — named for its bright yellow underside and flattened yellow tail with black spots — is no joke.
But Pauly said "these are pretty mellow animals" and they are unlikely to bite a person unless they are picked up.
Natural History Museum of Los AnThis rare venomous sea snake found slithering on the sand in Newport Beach is one of a growing number of the serpents apparently drawn far north of their usual habitat by the spread of warm ocean temperatures, a biologist says.
The yellow-bellied sea snake discovered near the 18th Street lifeguard tower on Monday was the third report of the species in Southern California since 2015 — and the fifth since 1972, said Greg Pauly, herpetological curator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
"Oceans are warming and the species that respond to that change will be those that are the most mobile," Pauly said. "So the big question now is this: Are sea snakes swimming off the coast of Southern California the new normal?"
Sporting short sharp fangs capable of delivering extremely potent venom, the snake — named for its bright yellow underside and flattened yellow tail with black spots — is no joke.
But Pauly said "these are pretty mellow animals" and they are unlikely to bite a person unless they are picked up.
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Saw-scaled, or carpet vipers, are a major cause of snakebite envenoming in Sub-Saharan African savannas north of the rainforest belt, in the Arabian Peninsula and extending through Iran to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, according to the World Health Organization. This is a West African carpet viper from Nigeria. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOSaw-scaled, or carpet vipers, are a major cause of snakebite envenoming in Sub-Saharan African savannas north of the rainforest belt, in the Arabian Peninsula and extending through Iran to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, according to the World Health Organization. This is a West African carpet viper from Nigeria. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Several cobra species belong to the genus Naja, according to the World Health Organization. Cobras are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as throughout South and South East Asia. This is an Egyptian cobra, photographed in Kenya. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOSeveral cobra species belong to the genus Naja, according to the World Health Organization. Cobras are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as throughout South and South East Asia. This is an Egyptian cobra, photographed in Kenya. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Several cobra species belong to the genus Naja, according to the World Health Organization. Cobras are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as throughout South and South East Asia. This is a monocellate cobra from Thailand. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOSeveral cobra species belong to the genus Naja, according to the World Health Organization. Cobras are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as throughout South and South East Asia. This is a monocellate cobra from Thailand. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Puff adders are found in Sub-Saharab Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, causing many snakebites that result in permanent disability or death, according to the World Health Organization. This puff adder is from Kenya. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOPuff adders are found in Sub-Saharab Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, causing many snakebites that result in permanent disability or death, according to the World Health Organization. This puff adder is from Kenya. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Mambas are a group of widely distributed venomous snakes with neurotoxic venom, feared because of high fatality rates associated with envenoming, according to the World Health Organization. This is a black mamba photographed in Swaziland. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOMambas are a group of widely distributed venomous snakes with neurotoxic venom, feared because of high fatality rates associated with envenoming, according to the World Health Organization. This is a black mamba photographed in Swaziland. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Russell's vipers are responsible for thousands of snakebite envenoming cases in South and South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. Bites by this snake are a major cause of acute kidney injury requiring haemodialysis. This is a Siamese Russell's viper from Cambodia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHORussell's vipers are responsible for thousands of snakebite envenoming cases in South and South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. Bites by this snake are a major cause of acute kidney injury requiring haemodialysis. This is a Siamese Russell's viper from Cambodia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Several krait species with potent neurotoxic venom are found in South and South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. They can enter homes at night, biting people sleeping on floor mats. This is the Malayan krait from Thailand. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOSeveral krait species with potent neurotoxic venom are found in South and South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. They can enter homes at night, biting people sleeping on floor mats. This is the Malayan krait from Thailand. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
The Malayan pit viper is a major cause of snakebite envenoming in South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. They are found in forests and plantations, remaining motionless. Many victims are bitten after walking on or near it. This is a Malayan pit viper from Cambodia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOThe Malayan pit viper is a major cause of snakebite envenoming in South East Asia, according to the World Health Organization. They are found in forests and plantations, remaining motionless. Many victims are bitten after walking on or near it. This is a Malayan pit viper from Cambodia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Papuan taipans cause the most deaths from snakebite in Australia and Papua New Guinea, according to the World Health Organization, with most occurring in Papua New Guinea. Fatality rates are close to 100 percent without antivenom. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOPapuan taipans cause the most deaths from snakebite in Australia and Papua New Guinea, according to the World Health Organization, with most occurring in Papua New Guinea. Fatality rates are close to 100 percent without antivenom. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
According to the World Health Organization, brown snakes from genus Pseudonaja cause 50 percent of all snakebite-related deaths in Australia. This is a common brown snake from eastern Australia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOAccording to the World Health Organization, brown snakes from genus Pseudonaja cause 50 percent of all snakebite-related deaths in Australia. This is a common brown snake from eastern Australia. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Several lancehead viper species are found throughout Central and South America, according to the World Health Organization. They are responsible for many snakebite envenomings. This is a Bothrops asper from Costa Rica. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHOSeveral lancehead viper species are found throughout Central and South America, according to the World Health Organization. They are responsible for many snakebite envenomings. This is a Bothrops asper from Costa Rica. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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Python hunt! 800 compete to remove Florida’s invasive snakesDavid J. Williams/WHO
Rattlesnakes are found from southern Canada, throughout the United States and into Mexico, as well as Central and the northern half of South America, according to the World Health Organization. Bites are common. This is a neotropical rattlesnake from South America. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
David J. Williams/WHORattlesnakes are found from southern Canada, throughout the United States and into Mexico, as well as Central and the northern half of South America, according to the World Health Organization. Bites are common. This is a neotropical rattlesnake from South America. (David J. Williams/World Health Organization)
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