13 Animals You’d Never Guess Could Fit Inside a Garden Hose

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Picture this: It’s a sunny afternoon and you’re unrolling your garden hose to wet those thirsty plants. Suddenly, something small, scaly, or even furry slithers out, and you are stiff. It turns out that garden hoses are more than just tools; they’re accidental hideaways for some of nature’s most unexpected guests. Hoses, with their dark, narrow interiors, make surprisingly great dens for creatures looking for shelter or adventure.

Before you go treating your garden hose like a mystery box, let’s take a closer look at the critters that might call it home now.

Tree Frogs

These agile little jumpers are notorious for slipping into tight spaces. Damp, cool interiors of a hose are home to tree frogs. If your garden hose has been unused, it may have become a five star hotel for a frog with sticky toes and slimy skin.

Garter Snakes

If you see a little, slithery thing appear, don’t panic—chances are it’s a harmless garter snake. They’re small enough to fit into hoses and often take shelter from predators or extreme weather. Fun fact: If you see one of these garter snakes, they’re probably just there doing your garden a favor—they’re excellent at pest control.

Crickets

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While serenading summer nights may be one thing you think of when you think of crickets, they are also known for sneaking into hoses. These chirpy insects aren’t harmful, but they can certainly startle anyone when they appear unannounced.

Spiders

Small spiders will love the real estate of a garden hose. They often crawl in, either to spin a quick web or to escape the elements. Most spiders are harmless, but a sudden run in with one can turn a fairly innocuous day spent in the garden into a dramatic occasion.

Mice

Yes, even tiny mice can find their way into a garden hose. The hose is wide enough and cozy enough and can be the perfect tunnel. Hopefully they don’t decide to turn it into a nursery!

Centipedes

Often known as nature’s marathon runners, centipedes are able to squeeze into almost any crevice. To be honest, if they can find dampness and darkness in a hose, they’re in. They are great for keeping other pests in check, but are not the most welcome surprise.

Ants

If you’ve ever seen the industrious ant, you know that these creatures are always on the move and a garden hose could just be part of their next project. Perhaps, they’ll use it as a shortcut to food, or as a temporary shelter. You should not be surprised to see a trail of ants coming in or out.

Slugs

Damp, dark places are the favorite hangout for slugs and hoses check the boxes in this regard. If your hose has been laying in a shady spot, these slimy creatures will want to chill in there. They’re harmless, but they’re not the most pleasant discovery.

Geckos

Reptile world acrobats, geckos, squeeze into impossible seeming spaces. If you’re in a warmer climate, you shouldn’t be shocked to see a tiny gecko peeking out of your hose.

Earthworms

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When the hose is on the ground in wet weather, earthworms may often wander into the hoses. While these little garden helpers are doing no harm, they might just give you a slimy surprise.

Bees

Some species of bees are opportunistic nesters. An unattended garden hose could be a great place for a temporary nest. They will not be aggressive unless provoked, but a buzzing tenant is quite a shock.

Lizards

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Lizards are a bit like geckos, they usually cannot resist a hose. They seek refuge from predators or hot temperatures and are small enough to slip inside. If you unsuspectingly pick up a hose with lizards in it, their scuttling could scare the crap out of you.

Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs might poke their heads into your garden if you live near a beach. Being so inquisitive, they’re always looking for snug spaces to explore and your hose may have been their latest find. A memorable twist to your day would be to see one crawl out.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.