For one Colorado household, unexpected reptile occupants have transformed their dream house into a nightmare. When Amber Hall, a recent Centennial resident, discovered a roomy four-bedroom, two-bathroom home that appeared ideal for her family, she was overjoyed. She had no idea that slithering, unwanted intruders were hiding in the shadows.

As Hall was collecting her possessions, she made the frightening find. Her dog started acting strangely, so she went to inspect, figuring it would be a harmless spider. She was horrified to discover two big snakes curled up next to a door that led to the backyard. Startled, she went straight to get help.

Ten days have passed since the first encounter, and Hall is still dealing with the ten snakes that have shown up. The identity of the serpents is still unknown despite investigation and professional consultation. The enormous size of these snakes has confused onlookers, while some suggest that they may be an exceptionally large variation of garter snakes.

Hall is terrified and anxious all the time because of these creatures’ incursion. She now hates opening boxes because she thinks snakes might be hiding among her stuff. Hall, who was determined to find a solution, called in a professional snake wrangler with experience in compassionate snake removal. Although none of the snakes have harmed her thus far, she can’t shake the feeling that they are still there.

Hall has already paid about $1,000 for snake removal services, so her misery has come at a significant financial cost. But perhaps she needs to take more extreme steps in order to get peace of mind, like breaking through concrete to find the snake den. Hall’s desire of living comfortably in her new house is out of reach until the matter is completely settled.

When Denver7 contacted the real estate firm handling the house transaction, they were shocked to learn of the snake infestation. They gave Hall the assurance that they would have told Hall if there had been any prior sightings. They have never encountered a snake infestation like this one.

The president of Blue Tick Pest and Wildlife Control, Joe Sheftel, provided insight into possible causes for the snake’s presence. He proposed that the finding of several snakes in such a short amount of time suggests that there may be an underground snake den next to the garage. There is a rise in snake sightings when the weather warms and they come out of hiding.

Sheftel advised caulking foundation cracks and other weak spots to keep snakes from hiding in order to avoid similar circumstances. In addition, he stressed the value of pest inspections—which many businesses provide at no cost—during the home-buying process.

Potential homeowners should take note after Amber Hall’s frightening snake encounter. While mechanical and structural issues are usually the main focus of home inspections, it could be wise to think about pest inspections as well to make sure the residence is clear of uninvited reptile roommates. Homeowners may maintain their sanctuaries snake-free and have peace of mind with the help of experts and preventive measures.