Spiders have been known to make their webs in and around toilet seats as this is an excellent place to trap flies and other insects that might be attracted to the smell. And some spiders and other creatures fall into the toilet bowl and are then unable to get out.
It is very similar to finding a spider in the bath. You might think it has crawled up the plug hole but it is more likely that it has fallen or climbed in from above and then been able to scale the steep sides to escape.
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However, in Australia, venomous funnel web spiders (of which there are several species) can travel underwater for long distances by trapping air in hairs on their bodies, enabling them to breathe for hours while submerged.
Unlike rats, funnel web spiders do not swim, and instead crawl their way through pipes and drains – and potentially around u-bends to get into the toilet bowl. These are mostly wandering male spiders, looking for a female to mate with.
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Funnel web spiders have some of the most toxic venom among spiders and a bite can lead to sweating, muscle twitching, nausea and elevated heart rate. Death can be very rapid – within 15 minutes – though fatalities are mercifully rare.
So if you live in a region where dangerous spiders can be found, it always pays to give the toilet a quick scan before you use it.
