interfx - I don't think the rocks will be a problem. Just make sure you don't have any rats/mice around and try to keep ground cover under control. I've lived in GA my entire life and haven't had any really bad encounters. You'll probably run across one eventually, but don't let it get to you! razorback33 - you're lucky you don't have the neighbors I have. I constantly see rats going underneath their house. Their answer? Let's get a cat preggers so we will have more cats to eat the rats. Funny how the 3 cats hey already have don't seem to be doing any good. I've already seen two baby snakes in my yard, so you can imagine how many others are lurking around! They frustrate me to no end! They are nice people, but they need to get off their lazy butts and get a job. Maybe then they could afford to get rid of the rats! 4 adults and 3 minors in one house - not one of them has a job!! Ugh, I'll get off my soap box now!

Thanks, sportsguy and wayne. Looked up some pictures and pretty sure that's what it was. The tiny size fits, too. From what I read, a brown snake is sub-terranean most of the time so that also makes sense that I found it pulling grass away from the wall. Wish I would have had the presence of mind to try to catch it for a better look (not to try to keep.) It was SO CUTE! He/she is welcome to eat as many slugs and bugs as it can find! Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

There are NOT baby "water moccasins" (Cottonmouths). Your friend clearly doesn't know much about snake identification. This is a hatchling of either the Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) or possibly the Eastern Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum) (the babies are difficult to distinguish from just the head. These snakes are harmless lizard eaters. The Southern Black Racer is one of the most common snake in Florida and that is the way I would lean on this one based on this photo. This post was edited by FHFchrish on Mon, Sep 16, 13 at 8:25

Tiffany is right. Without a photo, we're really just taking stabs in the dark. The better your photo, description of the issue, when it developed, and the growing conditions and any changes to the growing conditions, the better your chances of getting a correct answer. With no other info to go on, off the top of my head, I'm thinking it could be anything from sunburn to rot to mechanical damage. hopefully you can upload a pic.