Arkansas high school football player finds venomous cottonmouth inside helmet: Snake known for its deadly bite had been hiding behind padding

A routine football practice in Arkansas turned into a terrifying surprise when a high school player discovered that a venomous snake had been hiding inside his helmet. The Maumelle High School student had already worn the headgear for nearly an hour before noticing unusual movement inside it.

The frightening discovery happened after warmups last week, when the player sensed something was moving inside his helmet. Instead of ignoring it, he took the equipment to an assistant coach for a closer inspection.

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What they found inside the helmet was far more dangerous than an insect or piece of debris: a roughly 2-foot-long cottonmouth snake hiding behind the padding.

Venomous snake found hiding inside football helmet

According to Maumelle animal services director Chris Davis, the snake had apparently found the helmet on the ground and crawled inside, likely attracted to its dark, enclosed space. The cottonmouth was tucked behind the padding, making it difficult to spot at first. Even more alarming, the player had been wearing the helmet for close to an hour before the snake was discovered.

Davis said the player was extremely fortunate that the snake did not bite him. “It was unreal,” Davis said. “You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real.”

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Officials had to use water to get snake out

Getting the cottonmouth out of the football helmet was not as simple as removing the padding. The snake was reluctant to leave its hiding place, forcing animal control officers to take additional measures. Water was poured into the helmet to encourage the snake to come out.

Officials eventually managed to force the cottonmouth out and used tongs to safely handle the venomous reptile. Animal services technicians identified the snake as a cottonmouth, a pit viper known for its venomous bite. The animal was later released in a wooded area away from the school.

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The incident could have ended much differently if the player had been bitten while wearing the helmet.

Why did the cottonmouth crawl into the helmet?

The unusual location of the snake left many wondering why it had chosen a football helmet as its hiding spot. Davis said the snake appeared to be well-fed and may have recently eaten before making its way into the helmet.

“One of the officers noticed that it, due to it being big and fat, may have recently ate a couple of days before,” Davis said. “It probably was trying to find a dark spot to digest the food, and when it was coming across, it saw a helmet lying on the ground.”

The helmet apparently provided exactly what the snake was looking for: a dark and protected place to rest.

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Player returned to practice with a different helmet

Despite the shocking discovery, the football player did not let the incident end his practice. Once the snake had been removed, he simply grabbed another helmet and continued playing.

However, the bizarre encounter prompted the head coach to remind the team about checking their equipment before putting it on.

The warning traditionally might involve looking for insects, spiders or other small creatures that could have crawled inside equipment. After this incident, however, the players had a much bigger reason to inspect their helmets.

The coach emphasized that football players should carefully examine their gear before using it, especially when equipment has been left outside.

Cottonmouth is among Arkansas' venomous snakes

Cottonmouths are pit vipers and are known for their venomous bite. They are also associated with wet habitats, although they can move into other areas while searching for food or shelter. The snake found inside the Maumelle High player's helmet was estimated to be about 2 feet long.

The animal was safely removed and relocated rather than killed, allowing the unusual encounter to end without anyone being seriously injured. For the Arkansas high school football player, however, the lesson may stick for a long time: always check your helmet before putting it on.