Overview
- Public Health—Seattle & King County posted the guidance with a cartoon after consecutive atmospheric rivers brought heavy flooding across Washington.
- Instructions advise staying calm, closing the lid, flushing, and adding dish soap to help the animal slide back through the plumbing if needed.
- Officials cautioned that larger rats may not flush away and could escape, recommending residents contact professional pest control in that situation.
- The department described the occurrence as uncommon, noting Seattle typically records about 50 toilet‑rat complaints annually but that reports could increase after the storms.
- Reporters and experts explained that when sewers flood, rodents seek air pockets and dry exits, which can lead them into household toilets.