Story perspectives

Cottonmouth Snake Found in Football Helmet, Player Unharmed

8/12/2026

Summary

Chris Davis Flushes

Animal Services Director Chris Davis and officers flushed a venomous cottonmouth from a helmet after the player practiced for an hour.
The player felt movement, gave the helmet to coach Kirk Horton, and was unharmed.
The snake was bagged and released in a wooded area near the Arkansas River.
The player received a new helmet and returned to practice while coaches urged gear checks before each session.

Summary

Cottonmouth Invades Helmet

Officials said a two-foot cottonmouth, likely a two-year-old juvenile, entered a helmet seeking darkness after a recent meal.
Rebecca McPeake, University of Arkansas wildlife-extension professor, urged keeping distance from snakes, cleaning bites and confirming tetanus shots.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission advised learning reliable cottonmouth identification traits and avoiding provocation.
National estimates record about 8,000 venomous-snake bites and roughly six deaths each year in the United States.

History

Historical Context

In 1975 the Helsinki Accords were signed, marking a global push for public safety standards; today the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Chris Davis and professor Rebecca McPeake continue that legacy by urging helmet checks after a cottonmouth entered a rider’s gear near the Arkansas River and emphasize education on venomous snakes.

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Chris Davis Flushes

Animal Services Director Chris Davis and officers flushed a venomous cottonmouth from a helmet after the player practiced for an hour.
The player felt movement, gave the helmet to coach Kirk Horton, and was unharmed.
The snake was bagged and released in a wooded area near the Arkansas River.
The player received a new helmet and returned to practice while coaches urged gear checks before each session.

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