A Maumelle High School football player got a shocking surprise during practice on Thursday, August 6, when a venomous cottonmouth was found hiding inside his helmet.
The team was splitting into position groups after warm-ups when the player noticed unusual movement inside his helmet and brought it to a defensive coach.
Kirk Horton, the athletic director, was informed about the incident, and the coaches made sure to place the helmet in a tote bag until Maumelle Animal Services arrived. While at first suspected of being a copperhead, the snake was later identified by animal services director Chris Davis as a cottonmouth, the second-most venomous snake found in Arkansas.
The two-foot-long snake was inside the helmet’s padding, making it hard to remove. The police had to pour water into the helmet in order to make it come out and capture it. The snake was then released in a wooded area far from the school.
Davis said that the player wore the helmet for nearly an hour but was fortunate enough to not have been bitten. “It was unreal. You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real,” he said.
As a result, the safety of the players was discussed during the coach’s meeting later on the same day. According to Horton, from now on, the message will be clear for players – they should examine all their equipment carefully before using it, including bugs, ants, and now snakes.
Cottonmouth snakes have bulky bodies that are dark olive-brown or black in colour and can be found in all parts of Arkansas. They usually like to hide in dark and sheltered places, and the helmets are suitable shelter for them.
The player got another helmet and continued his practice unhurt. It is recommended by Davis to be careful when approaching dark and sheltered places that can serve as a snake’s shelter.
2026-08-12 00:05:00
