If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. Gifford is scheduled to appear in court on the charges on Aug. We need to thank God that this incident did not end tragically.” “Using the best model of those that we think would be appropriate for Raleigh, I’m looking at banning the private and personal possession of these types of dangerous animals,” Knight said. Knight says changes must be made regarding the rules behind owning dangerous snakes. Raleigh City council member David Knight is looking at creating an ordinance to change that in Raleigh by examining what other cities have in place. “Although they are minor in nature … it’s clearly stressful on his family.”įelts said Gifford has expressed remorse for the incident and understands the danger a zebra cobra on the loose posed to neighbors. I swear I made eye contact with the snake, Retana said. Retana walked onto a porch at a home on Sandringham Drive and the zebra cobra was just feet from her. He hasn’t faced any charges like this before,” attorney Anna Felts said. On Wednesday, CBS 17’s Judith Retana spotted the venom-spitting snake just after noon that has been on the loose in a Raleigh neighborhood for more than a day. Gifford declined to comment Wednesday evening, referring all questions to his attorney. Three others involved mislabeling the containers for certain snakes. Thirty-six of the misdemeanors are for keeping various venomous snakes in plastic containers without any locks. But owners must follow specific regulations, including housing them in secure enclosures with warning signs and notifying authorities whenever one escapes. North Carolina is one of only six states that don’t ban private ownership of venomous snakes or require a permit to have them. One of the misdemeanors filed against Gifford states that the zebra cobra had been loose since last November and that Gifford didn’t notify law enforcement when it escaped, as required. The zebra cobra was captured last Wednesday night with a glue trap.

Investigators quickly converged on Gifford’s home on nearby Chamonix Place, where they later “safely secured” multiple venomous reptiles.

Zebra cobra snake