So, I found out they can climb…fast.
This 3 foot ( 1 meter) Ribbon Snake was heading directly for my back door. If he made it to the patio he would easily get lost or protected by all the big potted plants. He was hunting the frogs, lizards, and toads we have that keep the insects away.
Of course I chased him, with a small broom to scare him.
Well, he bit the broom then climbed the tree right in my face. Snake won the day.

While not a big tree, it’s tall enough to be a real tree.
Of course Ellen came out with her camera after I called. He sat and waited. We took these.

Eventually he came down and I walked behind him ‘guiding’ him back to the woods.
Ribbon Snakes are common, not toxic like others we have, and he was here first. We have a truce with the local critters.
Love your story! and I read it out to Nigel 🙂 We don’t have snakes here in NZ so a story like this is fascinating!
Ellen grew up in the north, state of Maine which is an ice box ! Snakes need warmth so Ellen didn’t see them most of her life. In general people have a natural aversion to snakes… 😃. Most are harmless. Some however are not, very much not. So of course our first week or so living in the Lowcountry guess who finds a toxic rattlesnake in the yard. 😂😂. She now walks right by Alligators 😂🤣… adapting to a new home LOL