Man's nighttime toilet trip horror as he finds snake lurking in dark

A man who paid a late-night visit to the loo got the fright of his life when he discovered asnake hiding in his bathroom. Norman Smith, owner of Invicta Environmental Ltd, and his team were called to the emergency after the startled resident found the escaped reptile hiding in the soil pipe boxing.

The team managed to remove the intruder without harming either the snake or the shocked resident. The reptile was then returned to its owner who lives nearby.

Jack Edwards from Invicta Environmental said: "Snakes are uncommon in the UK, but when they escape from captivity they can be difficult to catch, because they love hiding in tight spaces Fortunately, our client called us in early and we were able to remove the snake and return it to its owner."

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He added: "While we're not known for our snake catching, we're always ready to help out!" The August 12 incident shows how even in the UK, exotic pet escapes can lead to unexpected household visitors.

Snakes are especially adept at squeezing through tiny gaps and finding their way into neighbouring properties. Snake escapes in residential areas can cause considerable alarm, particularly when the creatures find their way into intimate spaces like bathrooms. And it generally sees the experts called in rather than people attempting to remove the reptiles or other animals themselves.

The Invicta experts say anyone who finds a snake in their home should maintain a safe distance. They should then bring in professionals with the appropriate equipment and experience to handle the situation.

They added: "Attempting to capture escaped reptiles without proper knowledge can lead to stress for the animal and potential risk to the person, so it's safer and easier to get in touch with your local pest control provider." They also reminded owners of the animals to ensure their enclosures are secure.

They said they should pay particular attention to small gaps that might not appear large enough for a snake to squeeze through. The flexibility of snakes means they can compress their bodies to fit through remarkably tight spaces.

The firm added: "While many environmental service callouts involve pest control or waste management, the occasional exotic animal retrieval adds variety to the job. With the growing popularity of exotic pets in Britain, incidents like this may become more frequent in residential areas, requiring environmental specialists to expand their expertise beyond traditional pest control methods."