It's common knowledge that spending time in nature comes with the risk of potentially coming across a snake—even if it's just around the yard. However, it's an entirely different situation when it comes to the reptiles making their way inside your home. They can sometimes get into some surprising areas in your living space when they're looking for warmth or chasing a potential meal. But in one recent case, a woman discovered large snakes hiding in her home's walls not long after moving in. Read on to see how she found the reptiles and what she's doing about them.
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A woman discovered nearly a dozen "shockingly big" snakes in the walls of her recently purchased home.
Moving into a new home usually involves learning about its quirks and less obvious traits as you become more comfortable in your living space. But one woman who recently purchased a house in Centennial, Colorado, is now reeling after discovering snakes living in the walls, local ABC affiliate KMGH reports.
Homeowner Amber Hall says she wasn't even fully settled in when she first found the first of the "shockingly big" reptiles stowed away in her garage. She later found 10 more of the snakes in the 10 days following the initial discovery.
"After all the research, everybody's saying they're some form of garter snake. But they're also giving the caveat that nobody's ever seen their garter snake that big," she told KMGH.
Hall says her dog first tipped her off to the hiding reptiles.
Hall explains that she wasn't the first family member to come across the snakes. While unpacking boxes during her move-in, she noticed that her dog had crouched down and started walking very slowly toward a door in the back of the garage.
"I came over to see what he was looking at, thinking it was like a spider or something, and there were two little holes right here and I saw snakes slither up the wall," she told KMGH. "So, I panicked."
Hall then went on to further inspect the area. But it wasn't until she touched the wall near where she first saw the snakes and felt warmth that she realized there could be more hiding, the news outlet reports.
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The ordeal has made it hard for Hall to feel comfortable in her own home.
Hall says she's since brought in professionals to help handle the frightening infestation. Snake wranglers have fortunately been able to safely remove the animals without harming any of them, estimating that they've been hiding out for roughly two years based on their large size, KMGH reports. But so far, the ordeal has cost about $1,000 and is making it practically impossible to get comfortable in the recently purchased house.
"I can't unpack any of my stuff because I'm definitely afraid that there's snakes in the boxes or under the boxes," Hall told KMGH. "It's like you crawl into bed, and if the sheet brushes your foot or something, you immediately rip the covers off or jump out of bed to make sure nothing's in there."
"It's rough," she added. "I'm 42 years old, and this is my first home. I've worked my whole life for it, and I can't enjoy it. My kids can enjoy it. I'm scared to death."
You can keep snakes from making their way into your home in a few ways.
While Hall had no idea she was walking into a serious snake infestation, there are still a few ways you can help avoid a similar situation. Keeping vegetation and plants around the base of your home well-maintained can be an easy way to deter snakes and the small animals they feed on from getting close to your living space, pest control company Orkin suggests.
Since snakes tend to seek out warmth, it's also advised to seal up any cracks in your home's foundation and to place screens over any exterior vents or piping, according to Orkin. This is especially important during colder months when the cold-blooded reptiles might be in search of shelter.
If you're concerned there may already be a snake in your home, your ears might be the easiest way to detect them in the walls. The sound of crinkling paper or a slow scratching could be caused by the reptiles slithering across insulation, according to animal control service the Wildlife Company. In this case, experts should conduct an inspection to determine if there's a scaly intruder and safely remove them from your property.
Zachary Mack Zach is a freelance writer specializing in beer, wine, food, spirits, and travel. He is based in Manhattan.Read moreFiled UnderAnimals • Home • News • PestsRead This NextSnake Attacks on Dogs Recently Reported
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