Venomous albino cobra remains on the loose in Thousand Oaks

1/9

Los Angeles County animal control officers carry the monocled cobra in a box to their truck Thursday afternoon. It was captured after being spotted crossing the street into the yard where it attacked a dog earlier this week. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

2/9

An L.A. County animal control officer catches the cobra in a Thousand Oaks backyard. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

3/9

Los Angeles County animal control officers carry the cobra in a box to their truck Thursday afternoon. It was captured after being spotted crossing the street into the yard where it attacked a dog earlier this week. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

4/9

Los Angeles County animal care and control officers search for a venomous cobra in Thousand Oaks on Thursday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

5/9

Los Angeles County animal care and control officers continue their search for a venomous cobra in Thousand Oaks on Thursday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

6/9

Los Angeles County animal care and control officers continue their search for a venomous cobra in Thousand Oaks on Thursday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

7/9

Residents talk to Department of Fish and Wildlife warden Dennis Rosenberg, second from right, as department officials and local animal control officers search the neighborhood around the 1300 block of Rancho Lane in Thousand Oaks for an at-large cobra. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

8/9

A Twitter photo of the cobra on the loose is displayed on a smartphone by a neighbor as officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and local animal control officers search the neighborhood around the 1300 block of Rancho Lane in Thousand Oaks on Wednesday. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

9/9

L.A. County Animal Control officer Manuel Gonzalez, left, and state Department of Fish and Wildlife warden Dennis Rosenberg hop a fence Wednesday after searching for a cobra where it was last seen in Thousand Oaks. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

By Veronica Rocha

Sept. 4, 2014 6:49 AM PT

A venomous albino cobra that has already bit a dog remains on the loose in Thousand Oaks after officials halted a search for the potentially lethal snake overnight.

The albino monocled cobra, which hails from Southeast Asia, has been on the loose in the suburban city since Monday after it was last seen in the 1300 block of Rancho Avenue, where it bit the dog.

Authorities said the cobra’s owner has not come forward, but people with the dog were able to photograph the snake just moments before it slithered away.

The dog has since been released from a veterinary clinic, its neck bandaged.

Alfred Aguirre, an officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, said a bite from the cobra can lead to death in as little as an hour, depending on a person’s immune system.

A three-man search team was deployed Wednesday to hunt the cobra at sunset, when it was most likely to emerge from hiding, but the effort was called off when darkness fell.

Authorities, meanwhile, recommended keeping all doors closed to keep the snake from entering.

Though the snake isn’t big enough to prey on cats and dogs, it will maintain a defensive posture when provoked, much like a rattlesnake, Aguirre said.

The snake’s preferred diet consists mostly of rodents.

Anyone who spots the cobra should not approach it but instead call authorities at (818) 991-0071.

In California, cobras are restricted animals and a permit must be obtained to own one, said Janice Mackey, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Even with a permit, the reptiles can be used for only scientific and educational purposes.

For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.