HOKE COUNTY, N.C. – While workers were installing a fence on his property on Calloway Road near Raeford, farmer Richard Wood thought he had spotted a fence post. It turned out to be the missing boa constrictor that had been reported missing in early October.
Snake spotted and identified
Wood said he recognized the 6‑to‑7‑foot snake immediately, recalling the earlier report of a pet boa that had vanished from a nearby residence. “I knew right away it was the snake that was missing, but it had been so long I had forgotten all about it,” he told WRAL.
His wife, however, had not given up hope. She had been worried about the missing animal, and Wood eventually admitted she was right. “Lo and behold, she was right, and I was wrong, so that’s not unusual,” he said.
Community response and safe capture
Hoke County Animal Shelter officials had warned residents to stay alert for the snake and to keep a safe distance, urging anyone who saw it to contact animal control. When Wood called a friend who raises large snakes for advice, the friend reassured him that the boa was unlikely to bite.
Following the friend’s suggestion, Wood and his daughter Peyton carefully guided the snake into a Rubbermaid container. Animal control officers arrived shortly thereafter, accompanied by a local man known as “Mountain Mat” (Matthew George), who assisted in retrieving the boa from the farm.
No plans for a new pet
When asked whether the encounter might inspire him to keep a boa constrictor as a pet, Wood laughed, “I mean, it wouldn’t be something I would have for a pet.” He added that the snake was now being returned to its owner, though neither he nor animal control knew the animal’s name.
Local officials encourage vigilance
Hoke County Animal Control reminded residents that while the boa appears docile, it is still a wild animal and should be handled only by trained professionals. The department thanked Wood and his family for their calm handling of the situation and urged anyone who sees the snake again to call animal control immediately.
This incident highlights the importance of community awareness and cooperation with local animal services, especially when exotic pets escape onto public or private property.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
