I really dislike that h-word.
Yeah.
But the price we pay for our lovely, mild winters and extended spring and fall weather.
Addendum: confirmed by staff at Herpsofnc.org as a Rat snake.
What a beautiful snake!
I'm afraid that the ones around here have actually burrowed UNDER the 18" of wire apron.
Possibly following the tracks of decaying tree roots since there had been trees taken down in that area when we cleared for our house.