An unexpected discovery occurred during football practice at an Arkansas high school. A player found a venomous snake in his helmet after wearing it for almost an hour. The incident took place at Maumelle High School, and both the staff and the player were surprised by the discovery.

The cottonmouth snake was about two feet long and had positioned itself under the helmet padding. The player noticed something unusual when he felt movement inside the helmet. Maumelle High School Athletic Director Kirk Horton expressed his disbelief, stating, “I’ve got a better shot at winning the lottery than seeing this in my ten years.”

The snake was initially reported as a copperhead, but Maumelle Animal Services corrected the identification to a cottonmouth upon arrival. The officers then removed the snake from the helmet and relocated it to a nearby river to ensure safety.

Following the incident, Maumelle Animal Shelter shared a message on Facebook urging people to check their outdoor gear before use. This simple precaution could prevent such encounters, emphasizing that it only takes seconds to ensure safety.

The cottonmouth snake ranks as the second most venomous snake in Arkansas, and it often prefers dark, enclosed areas, which explains how it found its way into the helmet unnoticed.