FWC cites Buckingham cobra owner after snake’s escape

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The owner of a venomous cobra that escaped in the Buckingham area received three citations from Florida Fish and Wildlife officials.

The Asian monocled cobra escaped from Lewis Pellicer’s home and was on the loose for multiple days before it was spotted near Stratton Road and Kitty Hawk Drive. Pellicer was cited with failing to report the snake had escaped, keeping it in unsafe housing, and providing false records.

A new FWC report states after residents first began contacting authorities about the cobra sighting, an officer paid a visit to Pellicer’s house to check on his reptiles. FWC says Pellicer first stated all his animals were accounted for, and that the Asian monocled cobra he owned had died two months earlier.

On Nov. 7, FWC officials say Pellicer admitted he lied, and knew the snake had escaped. According to the report, “Pellicer indicated that he had doctored the records prior to our interview in an attempt to mislead us from the truth.”

The cobra was taken to a Fort Myers reptile store for safe-keeping.