I have finally completed my leo's outside heated tort box. (Thank you Tom and Heather for your amazing posts on how to do this and a family friend for replacing my outside plug so it works again) Murphy the tort is adjusting to it slowly as torts do. Here is my concern. Obviously I close it up in the evening to keep critters/predators out at night but how do I keep them out during the day? (especially snakes) I live in Coastal GA and it seems to be an episode of Wild America in my yard compared to where I used to be in suburban So Cal. There are trees/woods everywhere in the "subdivision" and a pond outside my fence. So far this week I have seen in my fenced yard a garter snake and what I think is called a Brown snake. I know these snakes are non poisonous and small but still, I would rather myself and the tort avoid them curling up inside for some warmth since its still btwn 60-70 in the early mornings when I put tort inside the box before I leave for work. I really do not like snakes and do not want to encounter them when I lift the lid or close the door up for the night. I am a big time worrier by nature anyway and leaving Murphy out all day alone is already causing me stress and seeing snakes is not helping. I had a very large rat or black racer snake in my yard abt 2 years ago but we both agreed to be terrified of each other and bolt in the opposite direction. And I really don't want a poisonous snake to take up residence in there. So is there anything I can do or do I just need to toughen up?