ORLANDO, Fla. — A man was cited Tuesday for failing to immediately report a missing king cobra that escaped from his custody, officials said.
Florida wildlife authorities have reduced the number of officers involved in the search for the king cobra that escaped from its Orlando home last week.
The non-native, venomous snake escaped from owner Mike Kennedy's home on the 4800 block of North Apopka Vineland Road, which is used as a rescue facility for exotic animals.
It's not the first time Kennedy has had a king cobra escape. He's been cited six times in the past for violating rules, officials said.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commissioner Greg Workman said that multiple traps have been set with dead snakes as bait to lure the 8-foot venomous cobra out of hiding.
Workman said the cobra was fed in a similar way in captivity.
Officials said they're worried that if they keep looking for the snake in the woods, the scent of humans will weaken the smell of the bait in the traps.
Neighbors living behind Dragon Ranch, where the cobra escaped from last week, said they are spending most of their day indoors.
"I have to take care of my yard, look and see what's going on," said resident Yag Balack.
"I won't even go in the backyard. I'm afraid to," said resident Joe Maxwell.
Workman said at least one patrol officer will regularly check the traps and the five-acre property.
Wildlife officials said they hoped that scaling back the search would make the cobra feel more comfortable about coming out from its hiding spot.
Officials haven't said whether any of the other animals that live at Dragon Ranch will be seized.
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