According to Florence police, a South Carolina man was recently hospitalized after being bitten by a snake. Over a dozen venomous reptiles were found in his home.

It was not a snake invasion. Instead, it is assumed that the “wild or dangerous animals” were kept as pets, the police said in a press release on Friday.

The investigation began around 2:30 a.m. Friday when a man reported being bitten by a snake and asked for medical help, the news release said. Emergency crews went to a home in the 800 block of Marion Street and took the man to an area hospital, police said.

Later that morning, officers learned that the victim was a private owner of a collection of venomous snakes and had been bitten by one of those snakes, the press release said.

The snakes were found to be kept in the home, so a search was conducted to determine if there was a threat to public safety, police said.

A family member called the police to collect the snakes. About 14 snakes – as well as a house cat – were confiscated by animal control, the press release states.

Information on the exact species of snake was not available and there was no information on what animal control does with the reptiles. Police did not disclose whether the snake involved in the attack has been identified and there was no information on what may have caused the snake bite.

No other injuries were reported and police said they do not believe there is a threat to public safety.

As of Friday evening, the snake owner was still receiving medical treatment and no further information about his condition was available.