‘Screaming like a banshee’: KIRO hosts react to possible toilet rat amid King County warning
Dec 22, 2025, 3:04 PM | Updated: 3:07 pm
Public Health – Seattle and King County issued a warning on Facebook about toilet rats following severe flooding across Washington.
Flooding causes sewer systems to get overwhelmed, and rodents start looking for dry exits. Kitchen pipes are too small, so they go for the wide open welcome mat — your toilet.
KIRO host Ursula Reutin was asked if she would call her husband for help.
“Are you kidding me? I ask for help when I see a spider. Absolutely, I’m calling for Mark. And if Mark’s not around, I’m screaming like a banshee,” she said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
King County health officials share how to get rid of toilet rats
Well, that is the opposite of what Public Health – Seattle and King County recommends people do, which is to stay calm.
Health officials say to close the lid and flush, and if the rat is still there — hurry to the kitchen and grab some dish soap.
Then squirt some soap under the lid to help the rat slide down and flush again. Officials noted it may take many flushes to get the rat down.
“A large rat may not flush back down. If this happens, keep the lid closed and call a pest control company,” Public Health – Seattle and King County wrote in its post.
And if the rat escapes, close the door and set a trap.
Jake Skorheim sees toilet rats as ‘horrifying’
“This is horrifying,” KIRO host Jake Skorheim said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.
Another tip to keep rats out of sewer pipes is to keep food and grease out of the drain, as rats can follow the scent to food.
“I often will just eat in the bathroom. You’re telling me I can’t eat in the bathroom anymore?” Jake said jokingly.
“All flooding aside, don’t do that anymore,” KIRO host Spike O’Neill responded.
“Don’t eat in the toilet? Alright, alright,” Jake said.
Toilet rats catch national attention
King County’s toilet rat warning caught the attention of The New York Times and other international media outlets, leading Ursula to believe people have a fascination with rats.
Ursula said she worked on a similar story around 20 years ago, and people mentioned the rat would “bump into them” while they were using the toilet.
“They’d get a little poke in the privates? Like a little nose and some whiskers,” KIRO Newsradio producer Andrew Lanier asked.
“I talked to the guy who was in charge of the program for King County, and it was hysterical, because he would just talk about all these different things,” Ursula responded.
Watch the full discussion on “Gee and Ursula” in the video above.
Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
