Arkansas high school football player finds deadly snake was in his helmet while he practiced for an hour

The Maumelle Animal Services arrived to retrieve the venomous snake, placing it into a tote bag and relocating it to a nearby river.

Animal Services Director Chris Davis told NBC News on Tuesday that officers initially received a report that the snake was a copperhead. But after they arrived, they determined it was actually a cottonmouth.

The Maumelle Animal Shelter took to Facebook following the incident, writing, “Before putting on your helmet, shoes, gloves, or any outdoor gear, always give it a quick check first. It only takes a few seconds and could prevent a very scary encounter”

The cotton mouth snake is the second most venomous snake in Arkansas and tends to prefer dark enclosed spaces.