Baby copperhead?

female garter snake perhaps, based on size.

Definitely not copperhead.

Its reddish brown and striking which I've never encountered with a garter

After some picture research I'm going with Texas Brown Snake, back to woods he goes

That head is not a pit viper head. Looks like a cornsnake or gopher snake.

Yep, Texas brown snake it looks like.

+1 on the this guy not being a Pit Viper. If you ever see a PV up close in good light you'll never forget that knarly ugly looking head. I also would have moved this guy to safer quarters and hoped he'd eat all the bugs and small furry rodents he could find.

The Copper Head I killed earlier this spring was under a 2x4 board I'd picked up ...and freaked when I realized my hand and feet had been within his reach. I think the sudden sunlight startled him. He did not move until after I hit him with the 2x4x10' he'd been sleeping under, but it was a little hard to navigate or coil with a broken back and then a crushed head.
Ron

When we lived in Bay City, we used to see lots of snakes after a heavy rain. They would get up on the crown of the highway to get out of the water. Never gave it a second thought, even to them being poisonous. Coming from Idaho and colder weather, I don't think we ever wore shoes anywhere in the yard, gardens, or garage. One day I picked up the garbage can to put out for collection, and there was a large copperhead coiled up about 4 inches from my bare feet and toes. Yep, made a believer out of me, right there!!!

Yes, NOT a copperhead.

Texas Brown and Copperhead compared:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bds8P-88kq4

Cool looking snake. Young coppers usually have a green tail too. Plus it doesn't look too small.