Friday at 4 am I was awakened by thrashing and splashing in the toilet. My husband was able to remove a flying squirrel from the toilet but then the mystery began. Where did it come from? Today, again, I found a flying squirrel in the toilet this time obviously drowned. I live in Ohio with a lot of trees. I had a flying squirrel removed from my attic about 5 years ago but haven't had anything since. Has anyone had any experience with this situation? I saw where they may be coming through the vent pipe. Is this possible? I tried to post this earlier today. But this is my first attempt at a forum so I'm struggling.
If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks, Margie

Hi Margie, it sounds like the flying squirrels have made a new entrance into your home, probably chewed into the attic through an old repair or found a new location. If you have a basement they may be coming inside the house from an unfinished area down there and going to the water source. If on a slab perhaps coming through the large plumbers gap under a sink. If you have more questions give me a call. Good luck, Jacob

Just one more danger connected to "not putting the seat down".

Thanks for the response. I'm really leaning toward the vent pipe aka soil pipe as their way in. Reason being that I have a cat whose a fairly good mouser and a year old German Shepherd who misses very little. That's why the Friday 4 am wakeup call was so confusing. Then, again I have a basement which I'll keep an eye on. Have you ever heard of the pipe M.O. ?
I have city sewers and water but would it be possible for it to come up through the plumbing? As far as a water source, the dog and cat have water out all the time...Why the toilet???
One last idea. Rabies. Would it be out of line to suspect that they have rabies due to the fact that it is irrational behavior to come into the living quarters and go to the toilet for water? Finally, where would I take them for testing for rabies? I live in Summit County in a suburb of Akron.
Thanks, Margie

Our squirrels don't seem very receptible to rabies. I have found flyers in every part of the living quarters; they especially seem to

enjoy watching TV.

Margie, you seem to think its the vent pipes, just place some screen & secure over pipes, see if the toilet visits stop. Had a grey squirrel that got in to a vent pipe, never made it that far, got as far as the 2 " pvc pipe & got stuck