Buying a new home is an exciting milestone, but for Amber Hall, her dream home in Centennial, Colorado, turned into a living nightmare when she discovered unexpected—and slithery—residents in the walls.
Amber had been thrilled to find the perfect house for her family, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious yard where her children and two dogs could play. However, as she unpacked and settled in, her joy was disrupted by the unusual behavior of her dog.
While unpacking, Amber noticed her dog crouching and cautiously approaching the wall near the garage. Initially thinking it might be a spider, Amber investigated, only to see snakes slithering up through holes in the drywall.
“I panicked,” she said, describing the shock of finding the reptiles in her new home. The snakes—later identified as unusually large garter snakes—were found nesting inside the walls near the garage. When Amber felt warmth emanating from the drywall, she realized there might be more hidden within.
A Growing Problem
In the week following the discovery, Amber found ten snakes in total. A snake wrangler was called to humanely remove the creatures, and he speculated that some of them had been living in the house for years.
Amber was devastated. “This is my first home, and I’m 42 years old. I’ve worked my entire life for it, and I can’t seem to enjoy it,” she shared. Her fear extended to daily life—checking boxes before unpacking and even pulling back the covers in bed to ensure no snakes had crept in.
An Expensive Ordeal
Amber has already spent nearly $1,000 addressing the infestation, but the psychological toll has been even greater. “I don’t think I’m the first to find them, but I don’t think anyone would ever say they knew they were there,” she said, expressing frustration at the unexpected hurdle in what was supposed to be her dream home.
Despite the unsettling situation, Amber is determined to reclaim her home for her family. Her story serves as a stark reminder that when buying a house, it’s essential to investigate every aspect thoroughly—even the walls.