I was thinking it was a Massasauga Rattler
but shortly after posting the pics I received a suggestion
that it might be an Eastern Hog-nosed snake.
Some online research confirmed that it matched what I experienced.
It has some odd defensive behavior.
I posted a bit about it in #124 of that thread.
That makes sense. It was annoyed because, from the looks of the pictures, it was trying to get it’s winter long johns off!
Glad to hear Sam is still looking out for you instead of laying waste to broad tracts of the countryside and killing everything in his path like he’s “supposed” to do. :)