Snakes and Snake Behavior

[Bluesman]

I'm just begining to resize pics from my annual Memorial Day trip to SE Kansas. It rained almost constantly so the photo ops were limited. Snakes were in no short supply!
This Black Snake was crossing the road in front of our cabin:
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He was just under 4' in length and I was trying to get him to strike a pose. Every time I grabbed him he either tried to bite me or would slither off too quick for a shot. Finally he just balled up in a tight knot and played dead! I've never seen this before:
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While picking up old shingles on the ground these little 6 to 10" suckers were everywhere. Ringneck Snake:

[Hot4huntin]

Cool pics! Your cabin must be a snake haven!

[txtimetravler]

I am glad to see that you didn't kill them!

I ahve never seen a ringneck snake. I think that first snake might be a bull snake. The are good on the mice population. I think he balled up because it felt threatened. Probably thought you were like eveyone else and were goign to make him eat shovel.

[Bluesman]

Black Snakes = NO MICE! We like snakes to hang around.

[Superdog]

I don't like spiders or snakes.