Can Rats Open Toilet Lids?
WouterIf you’re wondering, “Can rats open toilet lids?” you’re not alone. They’re known to have a great sense of smell and they are adept swimmers. They are attracted to sewers, so they often end up near pipes. Rats have extremely flexible rib cages, making them easily able to squeeze through tight spaces. When the food supply is low, rats search for food in strange places, including in toilets. Rats will also eat partially digested human waste, which is often flushed down the toilet. But while some rats are capable of opening the lids of toilets, most rats do not. In addition, they prefer to wade in the water that’s inside the toilet bowl.
Rats can survive three to four days in water, and they can swim half a mile to dry ground. They are not aggressive and are unlikely to harm anyone in your home, but the experience can be a little frightening if you’re using the bathroom. The best way to get rid of a rat is to pour bleach into the toilet bowl. The bleach will kill the rat within 15 minutes. If the rat doesn’t die immediately, you can call a plumber.
Rats often enter toilets through the waste pipe. Their entrances are typically about two to four inches wide and feature smooth walls. The entrances should be cleared of debris and spider webs to prevent rats from coming inside. They can also easily open a toilet lid if there is no weight on top. If you think that a rat may be a problem, you should contact a professional pest control company.
