Missing boa constrictor prompts Hoke County safety warning

A missing boa constrictor Hoke County alert is asking residents near Calloway Road and Summer Lane to watch for a lost pet estimated to be 6 to 7 feet long. The Hoke County Animal Shelter issued the public notice, according to local reports.

The shelter’s alert, posted Oct. 5, asked anyone who sees the snake to call Hoke County Animal Control at 910-875-4148. The shelter said it would contact the owner if the animal was spotted.

What should Hoke County residents do if they see the boa constrictor?

Keep your distance, keep children and pets away from the area, and call Animal Control, officials said. Residents should not approach, touch, capture, contain or handle the snake.

Kristi Pylant, Hoke County’s animal control director, told WRAL that the owner had described the boa as docile and accustomed to being handled. Pylant said officials were still urging caution because the animal is large and outside its controlled environment.

Pylant said boa constrictors are non-venomous, but can be powerful and may respond defensively when threatened. The county’s advice is to report a sighting rather than try to bring the pet under control.

Where was the snake reported missing?

The owner reported the boa missing in the area around Calloway Road and Summer Lane, UPI reported Oct. 7, citing the Hoke County Animal Shelter. People who spot it were also asked to give Animal Control a description of where it was last seen.

The Charlotte Observer reported that the snake disappeared from an outdoor enclosure and that its species was not released. The available reports do not identify the animal’s name, sex or weight.

The supplied reports do not include a confirmed recovery update. For now, the county’s message remains straightforward: give the snake space, protect children and pets, and report the location to Animal Control.

This story draws on original reporting from UPI.