A high school football player in Arkansas practiced for an hour with a venomous cottonmouth snake concealed within his helmet.
The alarming discovery was made at Maumelle High School when the player felt unusual movement and alerted his defensive coach. The coach subsequently notified Athletic Director Kirk Horton.
The snake, identified as a cottonmouth and measuring approximately two feet in length, was found hidden beneath the helmet's padding.
"It really was just shock and disbelief," Horton told KARK. "I've got a better shot at winning the lottery than seeing this in my ten years."
Animal Services were called to the scene. Director Chris Davis stated that the player was fortunate not to have been bitten.
The snake was eventually captured using a tote bag and safely relocated to a forested area away from the school. According to Davis, the cottonmouth is considered the second most venomous snake in Arkansas, ranking behind the rattlesnake.
After the incident, the player was issued a new helmet and continued with practice. The team later held a safety meeting, advising players to check their equipment before use.
Davis expressed surprise at the unusual location for the snake. "I've removed a snake out of a car vent, in the engine, purses, backpacks," he said. "In a helmet? Never."
Cottonmouth snakes often seek shelter in dark, protected spaces. The snake in this incident had to be flooded out of the helmet's padding to be safely apprehended.
