not a gardening question

Yesterday I drug my irrigation hoses over to the garden for the first time because I think irrigation water is better for the plants than city water. As I was dragging the hoses I almost stepped on a snake. After collecting myself I looked at the snake, it was a gopher or bull snake, young about six ft. long and not moving much. I sprayed a little water on it but it still wasn't moving, it was digging a hole. Now I didn't know snakes dug holes but this is exactly what it was doing. It would stick it's head into the hole and drag dirt out with it's head.  This went on the whole time I was watering and then I left for about 5 min.. When I returned the snake was in the hole just laying there. I did some checking on the net. and the article said they lay eggs in May and June and the eggs hatch in Aug. or Sept. If this is what was happening do the snakes leave or do they hang around? We like our bull snakes, they seem to keep the rattle snakes away, but not in my garden. I haven't checked on the hole this morning because of the mud. After spending an hour hauling hoses and soaking the garden, how was I supposed to know we would get 3/4 inches of rain last night.    Anyway, if anyone knows about this kind of behavior in snakes I would appreciate the help.

Very interesting. Can you take a photo sometime so we can see what the nest/hole looks like. If I saw a hole, I would think gopher.

Contact your local extension service for the best advice on handling snakes in your area. Snakes are cool!