Jumping for the sky

[Starlight]

Taking a break from seed sowing, I went out to catch some rays and decided to rake a bit more. I should have stayed in the house.

I had just gotten started when I uncovered a snake. As usually, I jumped back and yelped my head off and did some deep breathing exercises to slow down a pounding heart.

It was a juvenile and I didn't uncover all of it. By the time I got back with a shovel to try and pin it to identify it had slithered somewhere under other leaves. We do have alot of snakes here. Some good and a whole lot of bad and most around here and in my yard I do know.

I haven't seen this type before. What I could see of the body it is all one color no patterns at all. Not sure if I have the color name right, but it reminded me of a russet/ color. Looked like some of the drying hickory and oak leaves, but only with a shine.

I have dial up and spent hours waiting on pics to try and load and finally had to give up so I could get some work done.

I have a big poster of the common top 6 poisonous ones that our electric co=op sent out to all it's customers and this snake is not on it. I even looked up pics of those 6 as juvenile's and none matched.

Does anybody happen to have an idea of what it might be? I would like to get it identified if possible and find out if it is a good or a bad snake since it is still out there in the yard and i'll probably come across it again as I clear more ground. ( shivers)

Also is there some sort of protective shoe wear that is good for maybe stopping a snake from biting through if you accidentally step on one?