I was at my father's home earlier today, which is in Atherton CA, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. While walking down the front path with my family, I spotted a tiny little brown snake... we thought it was alive at first, but when my 4 1/2 year-old niece came over and grabbed it (no fear whatsoever) we realized it was stiff as a board. She carried around the dead snake for a minute, before I told her to toss it in the grass.

Just curious if anyone can ID this, as I don't know what kind of wild snakes we have in that area - and since my fearless niece spends a lot of time there, it's always good to know what she might encounter. Pretty sure it's a harmless grass-type of snake, but figured I'd ask!

Sorry you can't see the head, but it had a pituophis-ish appearance: