Venomous spitting cobra on the loose in North Carolina neighborhood

CBSNews
Updated ·1 min read

Update: The snake was captured by animal control officers Wednesday night, CBS affiliate WNCN-TV reports.

A highly venomous pet snake has escaped and remains on the loose in Raleigh, North Carolina, police said early Tuesday. CBS affiliate WNCN reports that police sent an alert at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday warning that a zebra cobra, which is known to spit venom, was spotted on the porch of a home at around 5:10 p.m. Monday.

Raleigh police sent an warning early Tuesday after a zebra cobra, which is known to spit venom, was spotted on the porch of a home. / Credit: Raleigh Police Department
Raleigh police sent an warning early Tuesday after a zebra cobra, which is known to spit venom, was spotted on the porch of a home. / Credit: Raleigh Police Department

An animal control officer responded to the home, but the cobra apparently had slithered away. Authorities say the zebra cobra belongs to a resident of the neighborhood.

Police said Tuesday morning that the cobra remains on the loose and could spit and bite if cornered.

According to the African Snakebite Institute, spitting cobras can "bite people and prey, and venom is easily injected." The nocturnal snakes found in Namibia and Angola are black to brown with light cross bars, and average 4 feet in length.

Under North Carolina state law, it is "unlawful for any person to own, possess, use, transport, or traffic in any venomous reptile that is not housed in a sturdy and secure enclosure."

Police did not say if the owner of the snake will face any charges.

If anyone spots the zebra cobra they are asked to stay away from the snake and call 911 immediately.

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