re: GDCK snake almost bit my hand off

I have trouble not killing the good ones. I had a good sharp shovel and a black snake came up out of the ground. It took me several deep breaths to reason that he or she was in the ground in a mouse or mole run and that was a good thing. I have not had a large compost pile since the year I went to ours in early spring, reached in and encountered snake eggs, some hatching. Guess Ma Snake chose it for the warmth.