Michelle Lespron was eager to sleep in her own bed and use her own bathroom after a long vacation in Nashville. But her homecoming turned nightmarish when she found a two-foot-long coachwhip snake slithering in her toilet bowl.

“I slammed the lid back down right away,” Lespron told KOLD News 13. “I was so scared.”

Lespron called Rattlesnake Solutions, a local company that specializes in snake removal. Handler Nick arrived at Lespron’s home and spent three hours trying to catch the snake. The snake was elusive and aggressive, and it took Nick several attempts to finally capture it.

“It was a tough one,” Nick said. “Coachwhips are very fast and they can be pretty aggressive.”

The snake was safely removed from Lespron’s home and released back into the wild. Lespron said she was grateful to Nick for his help and she now knows to always check her toilet bowl before sitting down.

“I’m definitely more cautious now,” she said.

Coachwhip snakes are non-venomous, but they can still inflict a painful bite. They are native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are known for their speed and agility, and they can reach lengths of up to six feet.

Lespron’s story is a reminder that even in urban areas, it is important to be aware of the possibility of encountering wildlife. Snakes are often attracted to warm, humid places like bathrooms. If you see a snake in your home, it is important to call a professional for removal.