Vietnam mother wakes to suspected cobra slithering across bed beside her child

A mother in Vietnam had a terrifying close call, waking to find a snake believed to be a cobra slithering across the bed where she had been sleeping beside her young child.

A video of the encounter, filmed inside a home in Ðắk Lắk Province, shows the dangerous wildlife encounter.

What happened?

The clip spread on social media July 4 after the snake was reported at about 10 p.m. July 3 in Cu Yang Commune, according to DTI News.

In the footage, a black snake over 3 feet long can be seen on a bed surrounded by mosquito netting. As relatives looked on, a man used a stick in an effort to pin down the animal and force it from the home.

Son, a resident of Tân Thành Village in the commune, told DTI News that the episode happened at her sister's house. The sister was sleeping next to her child when she came in contact with the snake. She scooped up the child, leaped off the mattress, and called out for help.

Family members drove the snake outside with sticks and tree limbs while Son captured the scene on her phone, per the outlet. No injuries were reported.

Why does it matter?

Homes built near forests, farmland, or other wild spaces can end up on a snake's travel route, especially when the animal is searching for shelter, prey, or an escape from a threat.

Habitat loss and land development can push snakes and other animals closer to people more often. Clutter, stored materials, and rodents in or around a home can also draw snakes inside.

A nighttime encounter can be frightening and even lead to injury and emotional trauma, especially with a young child.

What's being done?

Sealing gaps where snakes can enter, trimming dense vegetation near exterior walls, and keeping sleeping areas tidy can all reduce the odds of an animal finding its way inside a home. Limiting rodent activity around a house removes one of the main draws for snakes.

If a snake does turn up inside, professionals generally recommend moving people and pets a safe distance away rather than trying to corner or kill the animal, then contacting a trained wildlife responder.

A similar bedroom encounter with a cobra at a horse riding center and another case wherein deputies found a snake hiding under a bed show how often these animals end up in the parts of homes people consider safest. Development that pushes into wild spaces is a major driver of rising human-wildlife contacts, the BBC has reported.

"The snake was quite aggressive. It repeatedly raised its head and lunged towards the stick whenever someone approached. It may have entered the house through gaps in the walls," Son said.

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