Renter moves into a new apartment and discovers a massive, scaly guest hiding inside the stove

Late last month, a renter in Houston County, Georgia, got the shock of their life after realizing that a large, scaly creature had taken up residence inside their stove.

Startled by the discovery, the tenant immediately contacted the property management company to report what they had found. Recognizing that this wasn’t a situation they could handle themselves, the management team reached out to an expert for assistance. They called James Dowling of Houston County Georgia Snake Removal & Relocation to take care of the problem.

Dowling approached the situation carefully, inspecting the stove piece by piece. He began by removing the rear access panel and methodically checked each section as he worked his way around the appliance. Eventually, he located the unexpected occupant tucked away near the top of the stove.

“A big ol’ snake had found itself the coziest little spot right under the burners,” Middle Ga Handyman later shared in a Facebook post describing the unusual rescue.

The rescuer mentioned that he’d encountered snakes hiding in stoves before, but they were typically found near the bottom close to the floor.

“I was definitely shocked when we lifted the top and discovered it there,”

The animal turned out to be a ball python that had likely gotten out of its enclosure and been left behind by a former owner. Since ball pythons aren’t venomous, Dowling was able to carefully remove the snake from the stove and place him safely into a carrier.

Afterward, the rescuer brought the python home, checked him thoroughly for any injuries, and later helped arrange a permanent home where the snake could spend the rest of his life safe and comfortable.

In the end, Dowling was relieved that the situation had a positive outcome.

“It felt great knowing the new tenant could finally relax and enjoy her new home without any concerns,” he said.