Looks like a Pine Woods to me, but Im not real familiar with NC colubrids..They are said to be about 10-15" long with a shiny golden to a reddish brown coloring...Head being a bit darker, and the belly is normally yellow to white..I think they are native to your area though
If the stomach is red, it could be a red-phased Red Belly snake..Usually they are gray, or brown in color...They are primarily found under ground, though.. and they are roughly 10" max size..I cant tell length or stomach coloration really on your little guy.
Very attractive snake though!
