very small, at first I thought it was a big earthworm... Until I noticed distinct ventral scales... I was planting few new flowers and digging with my little foot shovel. close up. I obviously didn't see it in there and must have cut half of his body with it..., he was still moving... I feel sick that I did this! And even sicker about leaving him to die. I moved him to the shade in soft grass sprinkled water... Though I should probably just put him out of misery but I have never killed any animal. Should I have just chopped his little head off with that shovel?.... I don't know! This will be haunting me now for a while. I hate that thought of any animal suffering. Now if maybe be worth of mentioning that I've lived with BIG snake and spider phobias for most of my life but have to say that in recent years it's been easing up some. I've been trying to put some conscious effort into overcoming some of that by educating myself about the species that scare me as well as contemplation/meditation of beauty and wisdom of Nature, and world around us. So maybe a decade ago, I'd freak out if I saw this tiny snake so close to me. It would have chills running down my spine and would run away and probably neglect that flowerbed for few weeks. Now, I did feel some discomfort but it quickly became all about this little creature's suffering which I had caused. I have this happen all the time when digging in my garden, but that's with earthworms and it makes me feel bad but not nearly as bad as this yesterday. Apparently there are MANY snakes here and in my crazy phobia-ridden brain I was just blocking the sight all those years of gardening. Any advice on garden snake handling if my shovel ever hurts another? Letting this little thing just die (pretty sure he ended up dying, the cut was through more than 1/2 of the body and spine and I think way above the anus level for him to survive) was just so horribly traumatic, it's like I can't shake it off. I hope someone's around to hear my confession and offer some words of experience and wisdom