A Maumelle High School student discovered a poisonous cottonmouth snake embedded inside his helmet during Thursday’s football practice, prompting immediate action from coaches and animal control officials.
The incident occurred after the student had been warming up for over an hour. He noticed an unusual sensation before realizing movement within the helmet padding.
“I really was just shock and disbelief,” the student said, handing the helmet to a member of the coaching staff who then passed it to head coach Kirk Horton.
Horton described the experience as unprecedented: “I’ve got a better chance of winning the lottery [than] seeing this in my 10 years.”
Animal control officials confirmed the snake was a venomous cottonmouth. This species, found throughout Arkansas, can cause life-threatening complications through its bite—damaging blood vessels, breaking down red blood cells, and potentially leading to death.
Chris Davis, director of Maumelle Animal Services, stated this was one of the most unusual captures he has ever handled. “I’ve removed snakes from car vents, engines, purses, backpacks,” Davis said. “In a helmet? Never.”
Davis noted that cottonmouth bites can cause localized necrosis and are serious medical emergencies. “It was very unreal,” Davis added. “You had to be there and take pictures to say this was real.”
