Texas Gardening: Where are the herpetologists when you need one?, 1 by newtonsthirdlaw

newtonsthirdlaw wrote:
I saw these little snakes for the first time last year living under rocks around my garden beds. I have seen shed skins for years but never saw the actual animal. I looked them up and think they are rough earth snakes, small and harmless really. I have little experience with snakes and know nothing of those native to TX, except rattlers of course. Can someone help me ID this little guys? I was out taking off the wires around some decomposed hay bails when I pulled up a whole den of them. I put them back and covered them with more hay. Now my issue is how do I prepare this bed for spring without disturbing them further or god forbid chopping one up with a shovel or hoe!