Arkansas Student Finds Venomous Snake in Football Helmet

An Arkansas high school student had an alarming encounter when discovering a venomous snake inside his football helmet during practice last week. He practiced for almost an hour before noticing the snake.

The two-foot-long snake, identified as a cottonmouth, had slithered beneath the padding of the helmet on Thursday. It remained hidden until the student sensed unexpected movement in the headgear. Kirk Horton, Maumelle High School’s Athletic Director, expressed disbelief upon the discovery.

“It really was just shock and disbelief,” Horton stated.

Animal services officers from Maumelle were called to handle the situation. They quickly removed the snake, placing it in a tote bag for relocation to a nearby river. Chris Davis, Director of Animal Services, clarified that while the snake was initially reported as a copperhead, officers identified it as a cottonmouth upon arrival.

Following the incident, Maumelle Animal Shelter emphasized safety on Facebook, advising, “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 in Arkansas and show a preference for dark, confined areas.