I don't know Ryan, it could have been a cornsnake or a Fox snake that you saw. Temperment I guess depends on the snake and the snake species. Garters are usually pretty nippy at first, but some of them I can pick up without being bit. Ring-necked snakes on the other hand are really docile and I've never been bit by one before. I wish I could say the same for Northern Water Snakes. They are some mean MoFo's and will bite you at any chance they get!