ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. -- Animal control officers said they believe a woman had a roommate for two months before realizing it.

The roommate was a large, brown and black python, WBAL-TV in Baltimore reported.

A woman living in an apartment called police after the snake crawled out from behind a TV stand while she was watching television, officials said Wednesday.

An animal control officer was able to get the snake out of the apartment.

The woman told the officer she had lived in the apartment for two months. Investigators said they think the snake was left behind by a previous tenant.

Anne Arundel County police said the snake would remain with animal control for five days to give the owner a chance to claim it.