Egyptian Cobra

To successfully capture an Egyptian Cobra on a trail camera, placement is everything. These snakes are terrestrial and prefer to travel along 'corridors' such as the edges of garden walls, long grass borders, or fallen logs. Position your camera very low—ideally only 4 to 8 inches off the ground—and angle it slightly downward. Setting the camera at a 45-degree angle to a known path rather than perpendicular will give the trigger more time to fire as the snake moves through the frame.

Since cobras are frequently attracted to water in arid environments, placing your camera near a backyard pond, a leaky irrigation pipe, or a birdbath can yield excellent results. They are also highly attracted to areas with high rodent activity. If you have a woodpile or a compost heap that attracts mice and rats, this is a prime location for a 'cobra cam.' Just ensure the camera is placed in a spot with enough clearance so that moving grass doesn't cause false triggers.

Because the Egyptian Cobra is primarily nocturnal, your camera’s Infrared (IR) performance is critical. Use a camera with a 'No-Glow' IR flash to avoid startling the snake, which might cause it to flee or strike at the device. Set your camera to take short video clips (10-15 seconds) with a minimal trigger delay; a snake's fluid motion is much more impressive on video than in a still photo, and it helps in identifying the species by its movement and hooding behavior.

Safety must be your top priority. Never check or move your camera at night in known cobra territory without a high-powered flashlight and thick, snake-proof boots. If you spot a cobra on your footage, remember that they often use the same retreat—such as a hole under a porch or a gap in a stone wall—for weeks at a time. Always use a long stick or a reaching tool to clear debris around your camera before touching it to ensure a snake isn't resting directly beneath or behind the unit.