Utah family moves out of recently purchased home over slithery ‘guests.’ Their neighbor knows the secret history of the house

Household pest infestations can turn a dream home into a nightmare. While most homeowners worry about termites, rodents, or ants, one Utah family reportedly packed up and moved after discovering their new house came with an unexpected problem: snakes.

The story surfaced in a viral TikTok from creator SoundOfTheForest 🍉 (@soundoftheforest), who recalled how a childhood fascination with garter snakes accidentally created chaos for the neighbors next door.

“I was talking to my mom the other day, and she was like, ‘There aren’t as many snakes in our yard as there were when you and your brother were at home,’” the creator said in the video.

According to TikTok, the siblings spent months collecting garter snakes from a nearby field and relocating them into their own yard because they enjoyed watching and feeding them. “We’ve absolutely loved them,” SoundOfTheForest said.

Eventually, the snake population became too large for the family’s property. The creator said the reptiles migrated into an abandoned neighboring house that had sat vacant for years after being owned by a bank. “No one lived in it for years, so the snakes moved in,” the creator explained.

New neighbors were in for a surprise

The situation reportedly escalated after new owners bought the property. According to TikTok, the family soon knocked on the neighbors’ door looking for answers. “They were like, ‘Hi, we’re the new neighbors. What are you doing about the snakes?” the creator recalled. “There are snakes everywhere in our yard. They’re in our house, they’re in the walls.”

The creator admitted that neither sibling confessed to their role in the infestation at the time. “Me and my brother just stood there listening. We’re like, ‘Oh, we did not tell our mother we had created such a problem,’” SoundOfTheForest said.

The neighbors ultimately decided to leave the property, the creator added.

What are garter snakes?

Garter snakes are among the most common snakes in North America and are generally considered harmless to humans. Experts say the reptiles are often attracted to yards with water, shelter and food sources such as insects, slugs, frogs and rodents.

They can also enter homes through small cracks, crawl spaces and gaps in foundations while searching for warmth or shelter. Basements, garages and walls are common hiding spots.

Although garter snakes do not damage homes the way rodents or termites can, large numbers of them can create a nuisance for homeowners. Online discussions from homeowners dealing with similar problems describe snakes appearing in basements, walls, and crawl spaces during colder months.

Experts recommend several steps for homeowners who discover garter snakes indoors. Sealing cracks and entry points around foundations, trimming vegetation near the house, and removing piles of rocks, wood, or debris can help make properties less attractive to snakes. Reducing rodent and insect populations may also discourage them from sticking around.

Despite their unsettling reputation, garter snakes are nonvenomous and often considered beneficial because they help control garden pests. Still, experts advise against handling them directly since frightened snakes may bite or release a foul-smelling musk as a defense mechanism.