A high school football player in Arkansas encountered a disturbing surprise during practice. While warming up at Maumelle High, a student discovered a 2-foot-long venomous snake inside his helmet.

The student felt unusual movement inside his headgear and alerted an assistant coach. They found a cottonmouth snake slithering behind the helmet’s padding. The cottonmouth, a pit viper, was unwilling to leave its makeshift home. Police had to pour water into the helmet to coax the snake out and into a bag. Animal services technicians soon arrived and identified the snake as a potentially deadly cottonmouth. They safely relocated it to a wooded area far from the school.

Cottonmouth snakes rank as the second-most venomous in Arkansas. Animal services director Chris Davis remarked on how fortunate the player was not to have been bitten, as he had worn the helmet for nearly an hour.

“It was unreal,” Davis commented. “You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real.”

After the incident, the player chose a different helmet and continued practice. This led the head coach to remind his team about the importance of inspecting equipment before use. He advised players to check thoroughly for insects or larger, more dangerous creatures.

The Maumelle Animal Shelter posted on Facebook following the event, reassuring that everyone was safe. They highlighted the tendency of snakes and other creatures to seek dark, enclosed spaces such as helmets, shoes, and bags.

The shelter advised, “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—or worse.”