The Santa Ana Police Department withdrew an alert about a venomous snake after determining the photo that prompted the warning was generated with AI. In a Facebook update on Sept. 29, 2026, police said the person who provided the image admitted the report was false. Herpetologists searched the neighborhood and found no snake. Gaboon vipers are native to Africa and highly venomous, but bites to humans are rare, the Smithsonian notes.
AI-Generated Photo of 'Highly Venomous' Snake Prompts Santa Ana Police Alert — Later Retracted
Santa Ana Police Department
A warning about a dangerous snake in a Southern California neighborhood prompted the Santa Ana Police Department to issue a public alert — but the photo that sparked the notice was later confirmed to be AI-generated.
The department withdrew the advisory after local herpetologists searched the area and found no snake. In a Facebook update on Sept. 29, 2026, police said the person who supplied the image admitted the photo was fabricated and that the report was false.
"He admitted the photo was AI-generated and that the report was false," the Santa Ana Police Department said in the update. "While there was speculation from the beginning that the photo may have been AI-generated, SAPD had to investigate and follow up to confirm what actually happened."
What Happened
Earlier the same day, a social-media post described what appeared to be a 4- to 5-foot Gaboon viper perched in a tree in a residential section of Santa Ana, roughly 32 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Residents were advised to avoid the area and to contact authorities if they believed they had seen the snake. The warning spread rapidly online because Gaboon vipers are highly venomous and are not native to North America.
Santa Ana Police Department
About Gaboon Vipers
According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Gaboon vipers are native to Central, East, and West Africa. Their distinctive coloration and leaf-like pattern provide excellent camouflage among leaf litter. These snakes typically lie motionless and ambush small- to medium-sized birds and mammals; bites to humans are uncommon and usually occur when a person accidentally steps on or startles a snake.
Possible Consequences and Takeaways
Police said they had not confirmed whether they would pursue charges for filing a false report. The incident underscores how realistic AI-generated images can trigger false alarms and consume emergency resources. Authorities urge the public to verify reports through official channels and to contact local law enforcement if they believe a public-safety threat is real.
Key sources: Santa Ana Police Department Facebook update (Sept. 29, 2026); Smithsonian's National Zoo.
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