Those wacky Swedes!

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - A Swedish landlord inspecting a recently vacated cottage got an ugly surprise when she found dozens of dead or ailing snakes, mice, rats and lizards locked up in cages inside the house.

Authorities have started an investigation into animal abuse after the gruesome discovery last week in Gnesta, in central Sweden, animal protection official Monica Angehult said.

She said the landlord found 90 snakes, three lizards and 60 mice and rats inside the cottage. All the lizards and rodents were dead, as were 17 of the snakes, which appeared to be pythons, she said. The remaining snakes, were suffering from dehydration, she added.

"I would guess they have been there since October without water," Angehult said. "The lizards and the snakes were very dried up."

It was not immediately clear who had left the animals inside the cottage. Angehult said a couple that had lived in the building were among the possible suspects. It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been arrested.