Tyler and Lauren Bouldin spent years searching for their forever home, but shortly after receiving the keys, they realized they were not alone. The couple purchased a property in 2020 in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, a small town with a population of around 2,000.
The stunning 1830s stone house cost $460,000 (£346,000) at auction, offering 6,000 square feet with six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The home had been unoccupied for about a decade before the Bouldins and their two children moved in. During that time, scores of snakes had made themselves at home.
Snakes discovered after moving in
"When we bought our house, we didn’t realise that we were also buying a large population of snakes," Tyler quipped in a TikTok video. Although the serpents appeared to be minding their own business, he added: "If you find yourself in this situation, the right response is not to burn the entire property to the ground as so many people have suggested."
The clip showed Tyler capturing the moment his family was "once again overrun by snakes" as two long black snakes climbed the exterior walls and entered a hole leading to the underside of their porch roof. A third snake was "hanging out" on the doorstep, which Lauren almost tripped over.
Efforts to remove the snakes
Tyler had been reluctant to remove the black snakes, believing they kept other breeds like copperheads away. However, he learned that different breeds can nest together. To combat the problem, the family adopted two cats to control the rodent population that the snakes feed on. They are also filling cracks in the foundations where snakes nest.
Tyler invested in a 'snake grabber' to catch the serpents and transport them to nearby woodland. "We spent whatever free time we had clearing the lawn, stone walls, gardens and woodland of debris, garbage piles, and overgrowth," Tyler told PEOPLE. "We removed our dangerous in-ground pool, restored the pond and installed filters and fountains, and closed up all of the holes in the house and barn, which created homes for mice, etc. We even planted mint around the structures, which naturally deters snakes."
Social media reactions
In response to the TikTok video, one user wrote: "I had a similar experience with rattle snakes and it turned out my attic and basement were full of rats." Another warned: "For every one you see, there's 20 you don't." A third exclaimed: "This is literally my childhood recurring nightmare. Absolutely not. Sell it." A fourth advised: "A nest is an issue for the structure of the house. I would consult reptile experts in the area to get them humanely moved."
