I was careful when I did it as the original pile had spilled out, and was covering about an 8'x10' area near a bunch of Johnson grass. Several brown recluse, ton of crickets and other bugs, and at least one very large scorpion. When I moved the last piece, I found one that looked almost exactly like this guy. He was doing his best to mimic a rattler, though-striking pattern and just the right colors. Was probably 30". This is a stock photo but looked like my guy except mine was thinner. He sat there for a bit wondering why the sun was out, and then slowly took off into the grass.

good to keep an eye out

That’s the reason you didn’t find mice or rats under there…

Yessir! But they're in the pasture. I shredded a road at 6pm Saturday evening and ran a whole family of wooly rats out of one part.

Those are good to have around. Glad you let it live.

And the name is...Texas rat snake or chicken snake?

They'll also stick their tail into a clump of dry grass and vibrate it to mimic a rattle. I'll admit to killing a few of them that fooled me when I was bird hunting.

I have run across several and they weren't very fast movers, but they made up for it with aggression.

Haven't killed one since boyhood; well before I understood they are nature's mousetrap. I relocate them when they're near the house or yard and leave them alone otherwise.