Following many hours of consultation and preparation by officers from Raleigh police and animal control, a venomous zebra cobra was captured on a north Raleigh porch Wednesday night, capping a 48-hour case involving North Carolina media.

A red bucket was used to guide the cobra into a safe location where all glue could be removed from its body.

As WRAL's cameras captured it earlier in the day, a striped snake slithered out of the siding of a house on Sandringham Drive and onto a porch. When it lifted its head to look around, its hood was visible.

Officers from Animal Control moved the cameras back after confirming that it was the snake, trying to capture it before moving in.

brisbane north snake catcher An early morning 911 call from that same home prompted the search.

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A glue trap endangers days-long search in north Raleigh for venomous zebra cobras
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This entry was posted at 7:21 a.m. EDT on July 1 2021.
10:00 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, July 13 2021


The report was compiled by WRAL reporters Kasey Cunningham, Joe Fisher and Matt Talhelm, and multiplatform producers Heather Leah & Maggie Brown

N.C., Raleigh Despite hours of preparation by animal control and law enforcement officers, a glue trap finally captured a venomous zebra cobra on a north Raleigh porch Wednesday, capping an event that garnered attention throughout the state.

Cobra was placed in red bucket and moved to a safe location to fully remove glue from its body.

At youtube.com, a striped snake crawled out of the siding of a house on Sandringham Drive onto the front porch of a home earlier in the day. Its hood was visible when it raised its head to look around.

Before moving in to capture the snake, Animal Control officers moved camera crews to the back.

The search was sparked by a 911 call from the same home early Tuesday.

#RaleighCobra: T-shirts, memes and Twitter accounts inspired by the roaming venomous snake in Raleigh
It was a relief to neighbor Joan Nelson to have the ordeal over.

She says she feels safe and happy now. Now that I can go outside, I can walk on my deck and go outside. Nevertheless, I feel somewhat sorry for the snake.

A zebra cobra has been missing from a north Raleigh neighborhood where this stunted snake is seen.

The snake is a zebra cobra and can spit up to nine feet long, making even a morning dog walk a daunting task. African Snakebite Institute has described the snake as very dangerous. It is possible for the venom to cause a victim's nervous system to shut down.

Someone who is bitten by the poison of a cobra would feel pain, swelling, gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Following a heavy fever and breathing problems, you might lose your breath and may die.

Avian and Exotic Animal Care is owned and operated by veterinarian Salina Locke.

The cobra in this species usually does not bite. They spray their venom more often -- they're very accurate, she said.

Despite the risks associated with this snake, Locke does not recommend it as a pet.

Most bites occur while people are sleeping. Health problems can linger for years for people who are bit, according to research.

Police searched a home on 6917 Chamonix Place on Tuesday, near where the cobra was last seen.

Four officers were dispatched to that home for an animal issue in March. They returned Monday and Tuesday after seeing the zebra cobra on a porch about a half mile away.

There are county records showing that Keith and Rebecca Gifford live at that address. There is a Facebook account for Keith Gifford that shows several photos of snakes that he claims are owned by his son, Christopher.

Chris Gifford has more than 460000 followers on TikTok. On one of his posts, he claims to own a 7-foot zebra cobra.