Arkansas football player practices for an hour before coach finds cottonmouth in helmet

During football practice, one Arkansas high schooler felt something moving around inside his helmet.

When he asked one of his coaches to take a look, they discovered a two-foot-long cottonmouth.

Here's what to know

The Maumelle High School student wore the helmet for nearly an hour before the snake was found, reported Female First. Police officers poured water into the helmet to force the animal out into the open.

Animal services technicians later identified the reptile as a cottonmouth, which is a venomous viper. After it was removed, the student changed to another helmet and completed practice.

Animal services director Chris Davis described the snake as "big and fat," and Female First reported that it may have recently eaten and was likely looking for a dark place to digest its meal when it entered the helmet on the ground.

More background

A piece of sports equipment left on the ground may have created the kind of sheltered, enclosed space the snake was looking for.

The situation is unfortunately quite common. Ordinary outdoor spaces, including school fields, parks, garages, and porches, can become temporary hiding places for animals, especially when gear or clutter is left undisturbed.

This can make quick equipment checks crucial in parts of the country with populations of venomous snakes. In this case, after the incident, the football team's head coach urged the players to check their helmets, shoes, and pads that have been sitting on the ground before putting them on, per Female First.

If something moves, rattles, pinches, or simply feels wrong inside a piece of equipment, stop using it immediately and seek help rather than reaching in blindly. If a snake is found, experts should handle the situation. Backing away and calling trained animal services personnel or police is far safer than trying to remove the animal without the proper tools.

Simple habits can also help reduce the risk. Storing gear off the ground, clearing clutter near grassy areas, and checking dark, enclosed spaces before use can all keep you safe.

As Chris Davis explained it to Female First, "It was unreal. You had to kind of be there and take pictures to say this was real."

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