little snake

Found a small snake in the grass while raking leaves yesterday. I think it's a young garter snake northern brown snake. It was so little I thought I'd found a skink again when caught its tail- at the widest point no thicker than my pinkie finger.

We scooped it into a plastic bucket so my four-year-old could see it close up

and then turned onto an outside tabletop to take a few pictures.

Let it go again in the yard. I hope it hangs around. Great for some pest control. I think it's relatively harmless but I didn't let my kid hold it because I don't want her thinking she can just pick up any snake she finds in the yard. I did let her gently touch its tail as it was sliding away through the grass. Smooth.