Venomous Cobra Snake Missing In Grand Prairie

[Satanica]

[....]
Police say the owner of a venomous West African Banded Cobra snake called animal services on Tuesday to report his snake had been missing since 5 p.m. His home is in the 1800 block of Cherry Street. The owner says there was no lock on the cage.

Grand Prairie Animal Services, the owner and a venomous snake apprehension professional searched for the snake inside and outside of the home through the night with no success.

Residents who live in the area and see any type of snake are urged to call 911 immediately and not approach or attempt to capture the venomous snake.

Police have alerted area hospitals of the missing snake and initiated a protocol with Parkland hospital to treat this type of snake bite.

"If we would have just had a lock on the cage… There wasn't a lock," he said. "And it could have simply been handled."

Grand Prairie police warned people not to approach the snake, calling it "extremely dangerous."

The owner says it likely won’t attack if it isn’t provoked.

"I really just love reptiles as a whole," the owner told FOX 4. "No matter if it’s venomous, non-venomous."

The owner, who did not give FOX 4 his full name, says he was constructing an in-home enclosure for the female cobra when he had a mishap.
[....]
Randall Kennedy with Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife says the snake is likely just looking for a shady place to hide out.

"Don’t get overhyped. It’s not going to chase you down, anything like that," he said. "If you step on it, it’s going to bite you. If you grab it, it’s going to bite you. Other than that, you’re pretty safe."

But Kennedy admits a bite from this cobra could be fatal depending on your body type.

And there’s no antivenom available to combat the poison once it gets into you.

As the search continues, neighbors say they’re focused on keeping small pets and children safely inside.
[....]
The owner says the snake had only been in his possession for a few days. Police say he did have a permit for the snake from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Venomous Cobra snake missing in Grand Prairie, search underway

Authorities in Grand Prairie are warning about a missing venomous West African Banded Cobra snake that is on the loose.

www.fox4news.com

 

[Alf]

Was the last escaped cobra in North Carolina?

--Al

 

[cubby]

Was the last escaped cobra in North Carolina?

--Al

Does it give certain people a rush to handle venomous snakes? I can almost understand the love of reptiles, but I absolutely can not understand the urge to own and handle reptiles with venom that you most likely won't live thru if bitten. Definitely not having one without a lock on the cage. That's just stupid.

 

[Sejanus]

No lock.
Lovely.
Moron.

 

[Totemic]

Does it give certain people a rush to handle venomous snakes? I can almost understand the love of reptiles, but I absolutely can not understand the urge to own and handle reptiles with venom that you most likely won't live thru if bitten. Definitely not having one without a lock on the cage. That's just stupid.

There used to be companies that would pay you for milking venomous snakes and such, but they stopped doing that about 15 yrs ago.

 

[Metalfan]

Imagine waking up at night feeling that weird tickling sensation down your leg.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Maybe the enclosure should have been completed before the snake was brought home .. he'll be on here in the next few years having died or wished he died if he's this careless in the beginning.. I will give him kudos for calling and admitting he lost it..

 

[Satanica]

[....]
The incident prompted the snake’s owner, Tre Mat, to call police. Wildlife control experts responded to search but did not have any luck Wednesday.

With still no reported cobra sighting, DFW Wildlife Control was back out in the area Thursday to set up traps. The group said the search area would also need to be expanded on Thursday.
[....]
According to DFW Wildlife Control, 10 traps were placed near the home where the cobra escaped from.
[....]
CBS 11 News learned getting a state permit to own an exotic snake is relatively as easy as getting a fishing license.

Grand Prairie’s city codes say “no person shall keep any constrictor-type snakes…” but doesn’t mention venomous snakes. Dallas County code prohibits keeping a “dangerous wild animal” but the state definition for that doesn’t include snakes.
[....]
Police said they partnered with the Grand Prairie Fire Department to alert area hospitals of the missing cobra and to be prepared to treat this type of snake bite.

CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations

Latest breaking news from CBS11 KTVT-TV | KTXA-TV.

dfw.cbslocal.com

 

[Mountaineer95]

“A bite from this cobra could be fatal depending on your body type“

WTF? Like what type of “body type”? Apple-shaped? Pear-shaped? Or just mouse-shaped?

Also that owner sounds stoned in the video. Probably is. I especially love the neighbor who said “oh you don’t wanna know what I want to say to him right now!”

 

[Satanica]

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Police officers have arrested a man for illegally releasing a West African Banded Cobra, which is still missing, into the public last summer, according to the Grand Prairie Police Department.

On Friday, Grand Prairie police arrested 23-year-old Lawrence Matl in the 1800 block of Cherry Street without incident. This is east of Turner Park in Grand Prairie.

Officers arrested Matl on a warrant for allegedly violating Parks and Wildlife Code 43.853, a Class A Misdemeanor that involves illegally releasing a specific type of snake.

Matl is currently being held at the Grand Prairie Detention Center with his bond set at $10,000.

In reference to the code Matl is accused of violating, a person who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence releases a regulated snake from captivity is committing a Class A Misdemeanor, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. This can be punishable by a fine between $500-$4,000. It can also lead to up to one year in jail.

Snakes that are considered "regulated" Texas Parks and Wildlife include non-indigenous venomous snakes and the following constrictors: African rock python, Asiatic rock python, green anaconda, reticulated python, and southern African python.
[....]
Officials are warning residents who live in the area and see any type of snake believed to be the missing cobra to avoid the snake and call 911 immediately. They added that residents should not attempt to capture the snake, either.
[....]

Man arrested for illegally releasing Grand Prairie cobra, police say

A person who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence releases a regulated snake from captivity is committing a Class A Misdemeanor.

www.wfaa.com

 

[Satanica]

image credit

 

[Totemic]

What's wrong with this pretty thing? Why did they put this breed on the "regulated" list? Other than probably one of the heaviest constrictors. (actually all of the constrictors they name are pushing 20ft range)

 

[Blunderbuss Firozabad]

I don't want to stereotype, but shouldn't he be playing hacky-sack outside the Starbucks he is grudgingly employed at part-time, instead of importing THIS to us?

If hacky-sack or mis-handling killer snakes doesn't pan out, he's off to a great career as a douche bag.

 

[Satanica]

[....]
Matl is accused of committing a misdemeanor involving the illegal discharge of the snake in August 2021.

He kept the female snake in a wooden homemade cage with plexiglass. There weren’t any locks on the cage, according to his arrest warrant. Despite this, Matl told investigators he didn’t know how the snake escaped on Aug. 3. He had just fed her and left the room for 15 minutes before returning to find the empty cage that day.

An expert from a local wildlife removal company advised investigators that the cage wasn’t sufficient for such a highly venomous snake, according to the arrest warrant.
[....]

My apologies if this info was in one of the articles above. It's too bad the snake didn't get out and crawl into bed with the idiot one night.

CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations

Latest breaking news from CBS11 KTVT-TV | KTXA-TV.

dfw.cbslocal.com

 

[Totemic]

Snakes are amazingly strong. This is why they are in LOCKED cages. They can push their bodies up against the lid of the cage and get out.
This dude put everyone at risk by having an uncontrolled environment for a deadly snake. Especially if someone didn't recognize it and couldn't find the correct anti-venom

 

[Satanica]

The snake is still on the loose.

It’s been a year since the Grand Prairie cobra escaped. Where is it now?

Experts say the serpent is almost certainly dead.

www.yahoo.com