This box turtle picture was taken in our backyard.   According to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia, adult female eastern box turtles brown or yellow eyes, whereas males often have red eyes.

My wife and I spotted this rat snake (juvenile) on the Appalachian Trail.

This snake emerged from a hole in our front yard.  If you have an aversion to snakes, keeping your grass cut short may help you avoid unwanted surprises.

My wife found a few ringneck snakes underneath a rock in our backyard.  According to my amphibians and reptiles field guide, ringneck snakes discharge musk and thrash about when captured, but rarely bite.  We did not handle the snakes.

While jogging with my wife, I spotted this snake catching some rays on a gravel road.

This second image is a closeup showing the head and ring of the ringneck snake.