Tyler and Lauren Bouldin spent £346,000 on a huge property at auction that they believed had been unoccupied for 10 years, but it soon became apparent they weren't alone at their new abode09:14, 24 Jul 2026A couple who spent years searching for their forever home were dealt a cruel blow shortly after receiving the keys to what they believed was the perfect abode. Tyler and Lauren Bouldin purchased a property in 2020 in a small US town with a population of around 2,000.‌A stunning 1830s stone house, the married couple splashed out $460,000 [£346,000] at auction - bagging them a whopping 6,000 square-feet of space, comprising six bedrooms and five bedrooms. The home had sat unoccupied in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania for around a decade before the Bouldins and their two children moved in. But it seems they weren't alone - for during that decade of human absence it appears scores of snakes made themselves at home too.‌"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 appear to be minding their own business in his clip, he continued: "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."Content cannot be displayed without consentThe clip saw Tyler capture the moment his family were "once again overrun by snakes" as two long black ones climbed the exterior walls before making their way through a tiny hole leading to the underside of their porch roof.‌A third snake, meanwhile, was simply "hanging out" on the doorstep, which Lauren almost tripped over.Tyler had previously been reluctant to remove the black snakes, believing they are useful in keeping other breeds such as copperheads away. However, he has since learned the hard way that different breeds appear quite happy to nest together.To help combat the problem, the family have adopted two cats in a bid to control the rodent population in the vicinity, which the snakes like to feed off.‌In addition, Tyler and Lauren are working on deterring the snakes as they carry out maintenance on the house including filling in cracks in the foundations where they like to nest.Tyler has also invested in a 'snake grabber', which he uses to catch the serpents and duly transport to a nearby woodland area."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."Writing in response, one TikTok user revealed: "I had a similar experience with rattle snakes and it turned out my attic and basement were full of rats."A second person warned: "For every one you see, there's 20 you don't."Article continues belowA third exclaimed: "This is literally my childhood recurring nightmare. Absolutely not. Sell it."While 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."