YIKES! Apartment building owners cleaning out recently-vacated unit get a BIG SURPRISE!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The owners of an apartment building in New York were inside a recently-vacated unit in the building's basement when they received a heart-stopping surprise left behind by their tenants.

According to PIX 11 in New York, the apartment building's owners were cleaning the basement apartment after the previous tenants had vacated.

Peter Wang told police his wife moved a couch cushion...and discovered a Ball Python nestled underneath.

As it turns out, the snake belonged to the previous tenants and was supposed to be put into the care of a tenant upstairs -- but it was somewhow able to escape.

Because Ball Pythons are legal to own, no citations were issued, according to PIX 11.

Ball Pythons are non-venomous, and the smallest of the African Pythons.

CLICK HERE for more on this story via PIX 11.