Venomous Snake Found Hiding Inside High School Football Player’s Helmet During Practice

A routine football practice turned into an unforgettable and potentially dangerous experience after a venomous snake was discovered hiding inside a player's helmet.

Thankfully, the player wasn't bitten, but officials say the outcome could have been much worse.

Venomous Snake Found During High School Football Practice

According to a report from KATV, Maumelle Animal Services responded to Maumelle High School after coaches reported what they initially believed was a copperhead hiding inside a football helmet.

When animal control officers arrived, they examined the helmet and quickly confirmed there was indeed a snake wedged deep between the interior padding.

After a closer inspection, the snake was identified as a cottonmouth, also known as a water moccasin, one of Arkansas' venomous snake species.

Player Had Already Been Wearing The Helmet

Perhaps the most shocking part of the incident is that the player had already been wearing the helmet during practice.

According to multiple reports, the student began feeling something moving inside the helmet after warmups but initially continued practicing. When the sensation became too unusual to ignore, he handed the helmet to an assistant coach for a closer look.

That's when the snake's head was spotted peeking through the padding.

The player escaped without a bite or any injuries despite wearing the helmet for nearly an hour.

Removing The Snake Wasn't Easy

Maumelle Animal Services Director Chris Davis said the snake had worked itself so deeply into the helmet's padding that it refused to come out.

In all his years responding to wildlife calls, Davis said he had removed snakes from vehicle engine compartments, air vents, purses and backpacks, but never from inside a football helmet.

Officers eventually flooded the padding with water to coax the roughly two-foot cottonmouth out before safely capturing it. The snake was later relocated to a wooded area away from the school.

Animal Control Says It Could Have Ended Much Differently

Davis said the player was extremely fortunate.

He described the cottonmouth as one of the most venomous snakes commonly found in Arkansas, second only to rattlesnakes in his opinion.

Cottonmouths often seek out cool, dark, enclosed spaces for shelter, making unattended outdoor equipment an attractive hiding place.

Had the snake become startled or felt trapped, officials say the player could have suffered a venomous bite.

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A Reminder To Check Helmets And Other Gear

Following the incident, Maumelle Animal Services shared a public safety reminder urging people to inspect helmets, shoes, gloves, backpacks and any outdoor equipment before putting them on.

While this happened in Arkansas, the advice applies anywhere snakes are common, including Louisiana and much of the Gulf Coast, where cottonmouths are also native.

It only takes a few seconds to give a helmet or pair of shoes a quick look, but as this football player learned, those few seconds could prevent a frightening and potentially dangerous encounter.