Raleigh police warn residents after spitting cobra escapes owner

The Raleigh Police Department is warning residents to be aware of a venomous snake that escaped from its owner Monday.

The Raleigh News & Observer reported that the Raleigh Police Department issued an advisory Tuesday warning anyone who sees the poisonous cobra to stay away from it and call 911.

The snake is native to dry and desert locations and will bite or spit if it is cornered, according to the News & Observer.

It was reportedly last seen around 5 p.m. Monday on a porch in the 700 block of Sandringham Drive.

An animal control officer arrived on scene in response to a report of a live snake, according to The Associated Press, but when the officer arrived, the snake was gone.

Authorities reportedly blocked off the street and roped off the parking lot of a tennis court that is located next door, according to the News & Observer.

Venomous snakes, according to the AP, are legal to own in North Carolina, but they have to be held in escape-proof, bite-proof areas and owners are required to tell law enforcement if one breaks free.

The Hill reached out to the Raleigh Police Department for additional information and for comment.