Most people have a wish list when house-hunting—bedrooms, a backyard, a garage—but we can all agree no one wants unexpected residents in a new home.
After weeks of searching, Amber Hall thought she’d found the perfect first house in Centennial, Colorado. She pictured her two kids and two dogs enjoying the yard and loved the location. But soon after moving in, she discovered the home already had occupants—snakes.
While unpacking, Amber noticed one of her dogs acting strangely. When she checked the wall, she saw snakes slither inside through small holes. More warmth higher up the wall suggested several were hiding there. Though believed to be garter snakes, they were unusually large.
Unable to relax or unpack, Amber said even brushing against her bedsheets made her panic. In just over a week, she found 10 snakes. A snake wrangler has been removing them humanely and believes some may have lived there for two years.
Amber, who spent her life saving for this home, no longer feels safe. Removing the snakes has already cost her about $1,000, and she fears she won’t have peace of mind until the concrete is torn up to locate their nest.