A high school football player in Maumelle, Arkansas, practiced for nearly an hour last week wearing a helmet that concealed a two-foot venomous cottonmouth snake behind its padding. Police officers ultimately used water to force the pit viper out of the headgear, according to local animal services officials.
An Arkansas high school football player made an unsettling discovery during practice when he found a two-foot-long venomous snake had crawled inside his helmet. The Maumelle High student felt unusual movement inside his headgear following warmups and brought his helmet to an assistant coach for inspection, as espn.com.
Cottonmouth Discovered Behind Helmet Padding at Maumelle High
Upon inspection, a slithering cottonmouth was discovered behind some padding. Maumelle Animal Shelter director Chris Davis noted that the athlete practiced for nearly an hour with the reptile hidden behind the padding of his helmet before noticing the movement.
“It was unreal. You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real.”
Chris Davis, Maumelle Animal Shelter director, via CBS News
The pit viper proved remarkably resistant to leaving its temporary home. Police officers had to pour water directly into the helmet to force the snake out and safely guide it into a bag.
Animal Services Remove Viper as Officials Issue Equipment Warnings
Shortly after the extraction, animal services technicians arrived at the facility, identified the reptile as a deadly cottonmouth—noted as the second-most venomous snake found in Arkansas—and relocated it to a wooded area far from the school. The affected student grabbed a different helmet and returned to practice, avoiding any physical harm.
Following the incident, the team’s head coach urged players to thoroughly examine their equipment before putting it on. The Maumelle Animal Shelter reinforced that message in a public statement, highlighting how easily wildlife can seek shelter in outdoor gear.
“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.”
Maumelle Animal Shelter, via CBS News
The shelter advised athletes and outdoor participants to always give their gear a quick check before use, noting that the simple precaution takes only a few seconds and could prevent a very scary encounter—or worse.
