Hoke County: 6- to 7-foot pet boa constrictor loose near Raeford, animal control says

Hoke County Animal Control is asking people near Raeford to watch for a pet boa constrictor, estimated at 6 to 7 feet long, that went missing in the area of Calloway Road and Summer Lane.

Anyone who sees the snake should keep their distance, keep children and pets away from it, and call Animal Control at 910-875-4148, officials said. They asked people not to try to catch it.

As of Wednesday morning there was no public word that it had been found.

What animal control says

The Hoke County Animal Shelter first asked for help in a Facebook post, saying the boa is a lost pet and asking anyone who spots it to call Animal Control.

Animal control director Kristi Pylant told WRAL that the owner described the snake as docile and used to being handled. Still, she said, it is a large snake that is now loose and outside its usual surroundings, so people should not approach, touch, capture or handle it.

Boa constrictors are not venomous. But Pylant said they can be strong animals and, like any animal, may react defensively if they feel threatened. She asked anyone who sees it to stay back, keep children and pets out of the area and contact Animal Control right away.

The shelter said that if the snake is found, staff will contact its owner, WBTV and WCTI reported. When calling, animal control asks people to give the snake's location and describe where it was last seen.

How we got here

The shelter's Facebook post about the missing snake is dated Monday, Oct. 5, according to The Herald-Sun. In it, the shelter said the snake was lost, that this was not a joke, and that the owner was very worried. WSOC and The Herald-Sun reported that the snake had disappeared from an outdoor enclosure.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the alert was picked up by news outlets in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte and eastern North Carolina. WBTV, citing the shelter, reported that the snake got out on Tuesday, which doesn't match the date of the shelter's post. We have not been able to confirm exactly when it escaped. Officials did not release a photo of the snake or say which kind of boa it is.

Hundreds of people reacted to the shelter's post on Facebook, The Herald-Sun reported. On Wednesday morning, WCTI reported that animal control was still asking the public to look out for the boa.

About boa constrictors

Boa constrictors are not native to the United States. They come from Central and South America and don't handle cold well, WSOC reported, citing the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The zoo says boas can reach about 13 feet and more than 100 pounds when fully grown, and that they usually hunt by waiting for prey to pass by.

What happens next

Animal control has not said how it is searching for the snake. We will update this story when officials say it has been found, or share new information.

If you see the snake, call Hoke County Animal Control at 910-875-4148. Don't try to catch it.