An unusual incident occurred at a high school football practice in Arkansas. A Maumelle High School player found a 2-foot-long venomous snake inside his helmet. This discovery came after the student felt movement in his headgear following warmups.
Concerned about the sensation, he took his helmet to an assistant coach. Upon inspection, they found a cottonmouth snake behind the padding. Known for being hazardous, cottonmouths are the second-most venomous snakes in Arkansas.
The snake refused to leave the helmet willingly. Police officers used water to coax it out. Animal services technicians, who arrived shortly after, identified and safely relocated the snake to a wooded area far from the school.
Animal services director Chris Davis remarked on the situation’s seriousness. The student wore the helmet for nearly an hour without being bitten. “It was unreal,” Davis said. “You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real.”
Afterward, the player chose another helmet and resumed practice. This incident reminded the team’s head coach to advise players on regularly checking their equipment for insects or other hazards before use.
Snakes and other critters can find their way into dark, enclosed spaces—especially helmets, shoes, bags, boxes, and other items that are left outside or sitting undisturbed,the Maumelle Animal Shelter highlighted in a Facebook post.
The shelter advised, “Before putting on your helmet, shoes, gloves, or any outdoor gear, always give it a quick check first. It only takes a few seconds and could prevent a very scary encounter—or worse.”
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