In the year of our Lord 1953, the city of Springfield, Missouri, had a terrible problem. Deadly cobras kept popping up in people’s yards! What were cobras doing in Missouri? They weren’t native to the area. Who the hell had rolled out the welcome mat??  

For the local police, the sudden presence of cobras wasn’t nearly as mysterious as it sounded. A local store, the Mowrer Animal Company, sold all kinds of exotic animals. Organutans! Crocodiles! And...you guessed it...cobras! But when police talked to the store's owner, he claimed innocence. What was going on?

“Hissy Fit: Springfield’s 1953 Cobra Scare,” OzarksWatch Video Magazine

“Ozarks Life: The Great Cobra Scare of 1953,” by Chad Plein ky3.com

“Springfield’s cobra scare of 1953,” ozarksalive.com

“Fessin’ up,” by Mike O’Brien for The Springfield News-Leader

“And where is Reo Mowrer today?” The Springfield News-Leader

“Snakes in Springfield,” by Greta Cross for The Springfield News-Leader

“Tying up some loose ends about Springfield’s loose cobras,” by Mike O’Brien for The Springfield News-Leader

“Does Drury have the sole remaining cobra of ‘53 scare?” by Mike O’Brien for The Springfield News-Leader

“Cobra hindsight beats foresight,” The Springfield News-Leader

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