/ 1 March 2005

Florida man finds terrifying guest in toilet

A Florida man got a rude awakening when he found a 2m-long python in his potty, rearing its diamond-shaped head out of the toilet bowl, the St Petersburg Times reported on Thursday.

Shannon Scavotto immediately grabbed his camera phone, snapped a few shots and called for help.

But the reptile expert from animal control was out of town and a snake rescue company wanted $150, so Scavotto decided to take matters into his own hands.

The St Petersburg resident lassoed the African rock python out of the toilet, under the watchful eyes of his wife and three-year-old daughter, the daily said.

He then called work to say he’d be late, but his boss found the story a little hard to swallow, until Scavotto showed up at his office with the snake.

The Scavottos are trying to find the snake’s rightful owner, but for the time being they have more pressing problems.

“Makes me wonder now when I go to the restroom,” the newspaper quoted Scavotto as saying.

He said he worried at first his daughter would be horrified, but that “she thinks it’s funny. Today she was saying she’s a snake hunter.” — AFP