Missing King Cobra Snake Found Under Dryer

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ORLANDO, Fla. (CBSMiami) — A central Florida neighborhood can breathe easy after a search for a king cobra that got loose was called off Wednesday.

The large snake was found a month after it disappeared, and where it was found was a major surprise for one homeowner.

It's not an uncommon sight to find a stray sock under your dryer, but Cynthia Mullvain was stunned when she came across the 8-foot missing cobra in that very spot in her garage.

"I could tell that it wasn't in the dryer, and it was behind the dryer or under the dryer," she said.

Mullvain doesn't live too far from the homeowner who reported the snake missing. She realized something wasn't right when she heard some hissing. Though alarmed, she handled the incident like a pro.

"I don't freak out with snakes. I started getting a little antsy there about the fourth hiss, but I just completed my task and went inside and made a phone call," she said.

Animal Control officials showed up a short time later at the house near Orlando.

"It did put up a fight, " said Billy Ledford of Orange County Animal Services. "I wasn't there for the entire issue. I did notice when I was there it was acting aggressive and of course was hissing and we were able to catch it with the snake tongs."

The snake belongs to Mike Kennedy, who hosts the reality show "Airplane Repo" on the Discovery Channel. He's a well-known handler who houses and rescues exotic animals.

Back in 2001, he lost another king cobra. That one was shot and killed by a neighbor who found the snake in his home.

A permit is required to own a cobra, and owners are required to report them immediately if they go missing.