The first of nearly a dozen cobras was found in a yard not far from a pet shop on St. Louis Street in Springfield. For two and half months, more of the venomous snakes were spotted. It was a mystery for 35 years until a man finally came clean, admitting that he released a cage full of snakes behind the pet store as revenge against the store owner. The man said he thought the snakes were harmless. The incident left such a stir that the city seal of Springfield has a cobra on it.
Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.
