Arkansas HS Player Finds Cottonmouth in Helmet
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- Maumelle High School player found a 2-foot cottonmouth snake hidden behind padding in his helmet after warmups last week, having worn the headgear for nearly an hour before noticing movement
- Police officers had to pour water into the helmet to force the reluctant pit viper out and into a bag, according to animal services director Chris Davis
- Animal services technicians identified the snake as a cottonmouth — the second-most venomous snake found in Arkansas — and relocated it to a wooded area away from the school
- Chris Davis called the situation 'unreal' and said the player was fortunate he wasn't bitten given how long the snake had been inside the helmet
- The player grabbed a different helmet and continued practice after the snake was removed
- The head coach used the incident to remind the team to inspect equipment carefully before use, checking for insects or other creatures
Why it matters: Cottonmouths are Arkansas's second-most venomous snake, and the player wore his helmet for nearly an hour with the pit viper inside — Davis said he was lucky not to be bitten. The incident exposes a gap in equipment storage at Maumelle High, where a helmet left unattended long enough for a deadly snake to settle in ended up on a player's head.
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