January 1, Washington Residents Face Toilet Rat Threat

Wyatt’s Take

• Heavy floods in Washington are driving rats into toilets.
• Health officials urge folks to stay calm and follow simple steps if it happens.
• Flood damage continues to disrupt thousands across the state.

People in Washington are being told to keep an eye out for rats popping up in toilets after record rainfall and floods.

Heavy storms have forced rodents into sewer lines, pushing them right up into homes around Seattle and King County.

Health leaders put out a guide on what to do if a rat shows up where it shouldn’t.

They said:

“The heavy rain and floodwaters may sweep rodents into the sewer systems. If a rat visits your toilet, take a deep breath and follow these tips.”

The advice is to stay calm, close the lid, and try flushing the rat down.

If that doesn’t work, pour in some dish soap to help send the animal back into the sewer, repeating as needed.

Extra-large rats could crawl out, in which case calling pest control is best.

Flooding has pushed families out of their homes and left roads and bridges in pieces.

Experts say it’ll take weeks to count up all the damage from these historic storms.

Stay alert and keep your family and home safe as communities recover.

Wyatt Matters

Floods hit hardest where folks work and raise families. When nature throws a curveball like this, strong communities pull together and keep watch for every threat—big or small.

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