Family shocked when strange snake emerges from sofa while watching TV

Say what?

A UK family is recovering after discovering a snake under the sofa while they were watching television.

The Pantziz family from Lincolnshire, England, was relaxing with a tube on Sunday when, seemingly out of nowhere, a large snake appeared from under the couch, according to SWNS.

“I didn’t know what it was. We all ran to the garden,” patriarch Harry Pantziz told SWNS, adding, “My wife called someone. We were watching through the window. It was a little scary.”

Pantziz’s wife called Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, located in nearby Stickney, and they sent an expert to identify the slippery intruder.

“We first thought it might be something like a native snake looking for a place to hibernate,” said Jamie Mintram of Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park. But these small expectations were dashed when Mintram arrived at the family home and saw the serpent in person.

“As soon as I saw this little boy’s head poking out from under the couch, I knew he was certainly not a native species.”

The wildlife expert identified the creepy crawly as lamprpeltis floridana also known as the Florida Kingsnake – which is native to its titular state rather than central England. The Florida Kingsnake is non-venomous and can grow to about five feet in length.

“These snakes are bred for the pet trade here in the UK,” said Mintram, “He is obviously an escapee. Someone’s pet that managed to escape.”

Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park says they are temporarily housing the specimen – who they call Micky – until they can find his owner.

“Snakes are incredibly good at escaping, being escape artists,” Mintram explained: “We caught him, warmed him up and he seems healthy.”

Florida Kingsnakes cost about $100.