Arkansas high school football player discovers cottonmouth snake in helmet during practice
A Maumelle High School player found a 2-foot cottonmouth inside his helmet during warm-ups; police and animal services removed the snake and officials warned coaches to inspect equipment.
A Maumelle High School football player in Arkansas felt movement inside his helmet during warm-ups last week and handed the headgear to an assistant coach for inspection. Officials discovered a 2-foot cottonmouth pit viper concealed behind padding. Police officers poured water into the helmet to coax the reluctant snake out, then placed it in a bag for animal-services technicians, who identified the reptile as a deadly cottonmouth and relocated it to a wooded area away from the school.
Animal services director Chris Davis said the player wore the helmet for nearly an hour and was fortunate he was not bitten. > "It was unreal," Davis said. > "You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real."
The player switched to a different helmet and resumed practice. The head coach reminded the team to thoroughly examine equipment before use, checking for insects or other hazards.