Owner of property police search owns exotic snakes
WE ARE CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS.
>>> COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON.
THIS IS WRAL NEWS.
>>> RIGHT NOW AT 4:00, AND
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PET SNAKE
IS ON THE LOOSE IN RALEIGH.
IT HAS BEEN TRENDING ALL DAY IN
SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT IS NO JOKE.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF
A VENOMOUS ZEBRA COBRA.
AUTHORITIES WERE AT THE HOME ON
SANDRINGHAM DRIVE.
THIS IS WHERE THEY THINK THE
EXOTIC PET GOT LOOSE FROM.
JUST DOWN THE STREET, THAT IS
WHERE A NEIGHBOR SPOTTED IT ON
THE PORCH EARLY THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
GERALD AND LENA ARE OFF.
>> I AM JULIAN GRACE.
THE SNAKE IS NOT NATIVE TO
NORTH CAROLINA.
IT IS FROM AFRICA.
IT COULD SPIT VENOM THAT COULD
CAUSE HARM AND BE DEADLY.
WE ARE LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH DETAILS.
WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE
POSSIBLE OWNER.
MATT?
>> Reporter: YEAH, THIS HOUSE
DOWN THE STREET, ANIMAL CONTROL
HAS BEEN HERE ALL AFTERNOON.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE
ACTIVITY.
WE HAVE UNCOVERED A CONNECTION
BETWEEN A HOUSE ON THE STREET
AND A COLLECTION FOR EXOTIC
SNAKES.
>> Reporter: THE HUNT FOR THIS
ZEBRA COBRA BROUGHT HER SONS TO
A HALT.
>> WE ARE NOT GOING OUTSIDE IN
THE YARD.
WE ARE NOT GOING IN THE POOL.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL
GET BIT BY IT OR NOT.
>> Reporter: SOMEONE TOOK THIS
PHOTO OF THE VENOMOUS SNAKE
SLITHERING AROUND THE PLANTERS
ON THEIR PORCH.
THAT SPOTTING IS LESS THAN HALF
A MILE FROM THIS HOME WHERE
POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL SPENT
MOST OF THE AFTERNOON.
A PROPERTY RECORDS SEARCH
IDENTIFIED THE OWNERS AS KEITH
AND REBECCA DIFFERED.
THEIR SONS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
SHOW A COLLECTION OF PETS
MAKES, INCLUDING A ZEBRA COBRA.
IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT IS NOT
ILLEGAL TO OWN EXOTIC SNAKES
LIKE THESE.
>> IT IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU'D
THINK.
>> Reporter: SHE TREATS ALL
SORTS OF PETS AT THE AVIAN AND
EXOTIC CARE NOT FAR FROM WHERE
THE SEARCH FROM THE SNAKE IS
HAPPENING.
>> WE DON'T RECOMMEND THEM AS
PETS.
>> Reporter: ANYONE WHO SPOTS
THE SNAKE SHOULD STAY BACK.
ZEBRA COBRA'S VENOM CAN CAUSE
PARALYSIS AND POSSIBLY DEATH.
>> THIS ZEBRA COBRA DOESN'T
BITE.
THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SPRAY
THEIR VENOM.
THEY CAN HIT YOU UP TO 9 FEET
AWAY.
THEY ARE VERY ACCURATE.
THEY GO STRAIGHT FOR THE EYES.
>> YOU CAN SEE SOME ANIMAL
CONTROL OFFICERS CAME OUT OF
THE HOUSE.
WE REACHED OUT TO THE GIFFORDS,
BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.
THE RALEIGH POLICE HAVE NOT
TOLD US WHAT THE FOCUS OR
CONNECTION IS SPECIFICALLY, BUT
THEY SAY IT IS CONNECTED TO THE
SEARCH FOR THE SNAKE.
IF YOU DO SEE IT ANYWHERE
AROUND HERE IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, CALL 911