I found this little red-bellied snake while raking leaves off the beds. They nest in the leaves every year. This one is still a small juvenile. They are not big snakes even when fully grown. I like having snakes in the garden. They are harmless and they eat lots of insects.
Snakes and other creatures also give the garden a little bit of a wild side. I think preserving whatever wildness we can in our yards is important. The sterility of the suburbs is well commented on, but the suburbs are awful in so many ways. The sameness and lack of biodiversity is part of the issue.
Unfortunately, our two cats like snakes, as well, mostly for gastronomic and entertainment value. I don’t think the cats are endangering the snake population, but whenever I find a snake or a toad, which the cats will also terrorize, I try to hide them somewhere out of harm’s way.