‘I don’t want them in my house’: Montana woman unsurprised to spot snake in rural home, then realizes she’s living in a nest of them

When 27-year-old TikToker Callie moved into a rural Montana home, she expected to see a few snakes. However, as she recorded in a set of viral TikTok videos, she never imagined her farmhouse would become a literal den for snakes and a full-blown infestation that has forced her and her family to take drastic measures. She told PEOPLE that the realization hit them last summer when they understood this wasn’t just a random snake wandering into an old house.

The trouble began around 2020 when her mother-in-law first encountered a snake in the entryway. Callie saw her first one that December. She recalls, “I was going to go get my daughter out of her pack and play. She was about 6 months old at the time, and I turned around, and it was really small, but it was right on the floor in the living room, which totally caught me off guard with it being December.”

The house sits on a foundation of cinder blocks, which creates the perfect environment for these unwanted guests. Just like a lawn would for some other snakes. From the door leading into the basement entryway, the family can watch them emerge from the foundation. Callie notes, “Right now, we have our front door sealed and completely shut.” She adds that they can “watch them drop out of the foundation of the house, upwards of five, six or even more snakes a day.” 

Well, our house gets snakes too, but my cap is one every few months

Callie stated that “They’re just garter snakes, and they eat lots of bugs. People tell me all the time, ‘Don’t worry about them, they’re harmless.” Then she added: ‘but there’s still my irrational fear. I would never touch them. I don’t want them in my house.” The constant serpentine presence has taken a toll on her peace of mind, making her feel on edge in her own kitchen.

To combat the issue, the family has tried everything from snake-away powder to spray foam and caulking. They have to keep finding options because they can’t get an exterminator out to their area. They have even resorted to using sticky traps in the kitchen at night, though they have thankfully kept the snakes out of the bedrooms. 

Callie’s husband works as a ranchhand, and the house is part of his employment package. Because they value his job and the area, they are currently working with a contractor to perform major renovations. These repairs include overhauling the foundation, sealing cracks, and installing new siding to ensure the house is properly secured.

Callie has been documenting this wild experience on TikTok and Instagram to raise $75,000 to eventually move into a home of her own. While some people online suggest she should just burn the house down or move immediately, she explains that those suggestions overlook the reality of rural living. 

She has even received messages from others who have dealt with similar infestations. Despite the skepticism from some viewers, she maintains that she has no desire to live with snakes. She says, “I’ve had people joke about, ‘Oh, you’re just staying in the house for the content.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, right.’ I’ve said so many times, they’re my irrational fear. I have no desire to be in the presence of a snake.”