In Arkansas last week, a high school football player made a startling discovery. As practice went on for nearly an hour, he found a venomous snake in his helmet. The snake, which measured two feet long, had nestled beneath the helmet’s padding on Thursday. It remained concealed until the student noticed movement inside the helmet.
Maumelle High School’s Athletic Director, Kirk Horton, expressed surprise to NBC affiliate KARK in Little Rock. Horton’s staff examined the helmet after warmups, only to find a cottonmouth snake trapped inside. Horton remarked, “It really was just shock and disbelief. I’ve got a better shot at winning the lottery than seeing this in my ten years.”
Maumelle Animal Services Officers responded promptly. They carefully extracted the venomous snake, secured it in a tote bag, and relocated it to a nearby river.
Animal Services Director Chris Davis shared with NBC News that the initial report suggested a copperhead snake. Upon arrival, officers identified the creature as a cottonmouth instead.
Following the incident, the Maumelle Animal Shelter shared advice on Facebook. They urged everyone, “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.”
Cottonmouth snakes rank as the second most venomous snakes in Arkansas. They favor dark, enclosed spaces. This trait likely led to the snake’s improbable choice of hiding in the athlete’s helmet.