I feel bad when this happens. I flip the light on in my snake room when I walk in and head over to my cages. My younger BP will sometimes be out very early in the morning. Sometimes he will get so startled that he springs 6 inches off the floor of his cage. It's weird because it's a delayed reaction. I'll be standing there then all off a sudden.... he freaks and springs up in the air. Startles the heck out of me also. Poor guy...I try so hard to let him know I'm in the room before going in front of the cages. This has only happened twice...most of the time it doesn't. These snakes can be so weird at times. It reminds me of when I catch one of my kids doing something wrong.
