in the What The Heck? department

Stationed on Guam in the early/mid 80's. Since it's a US territory we were cleared to move off the main base and live in the villages after 6 month on station. I rented an end of a duplex, $240 a month,no air conditioning, utilities included. Was in the village of Yigo, north end of the island, close to the main gate. So, theres four duplexes, 8 units. A buddy of mine got hitched and rented a dupex across from me. SSgt. Ricky New, I'll never for get that guy! Anyway, he worked flightline evening watch in the 65th and I worked days... he asked me to keep an eye on his spousal support unit and young offspring when he was at work. No, problem. About 6 months after they moved in about 2100 hours or so on a week night I hear the most gosh awful, terrified scream. I jump up, grab the 357 and run across to the New residence. At the door I find Mrs. Lenora New standing with her shorts around her ankles screaming and pointing to the bathroom.... Entering the "water closet" I find a six foot brown tree snake in the bowl. Came up the the plumbing and gave a little "snakey lick a lick" on Mrs. News bottom. Damn! We laughed about that for a month of weeks solid!

I went to tap a kidney. For some reason the top was down sooo I raised the top and there was a small corn snake in the water sticking his tongue out at me. I just
stood there stunned,a snake in my commode,in my bathroom on the second floor. I told a number of folk about this and the comment was""it would have been funny if you had set down !" NOT

That there is only about a hat full of water blocking an open hole to not only the sewer but the venting pipe too. Water is blocking gasses in that S-bend. Ditto on your other house plumbing drains. It stops mainly the stinky sewer gasses. Blocking snakes, rats,chipmunks,birds, whatever is purely an afterthought in design.

Homes vacant for a time the water block can evaporate and cause problems.