At this point I would like to mention, that if we are to ponder setting up a scientific experiment to observe social behaviors OR specific instinctual and evolutionarily fine-tuned preferences, we will need to take a lot more variables into consideration.

I agree with the aforementioned set of boards set accordingly within a proposed grid. We need to consider soil types, textures, depths, for they may be unknown catalysts that create a "turn-off" as in "I don't want to coil up over in this corner of the woodpile!" Are we to place thermometers and barometers throughout the arena of research? Do we know the individual species' daily cycle of basking, cooling; do we know where any one individual will be at in its shed cycle? For that matter, how well does any one of us really understand what drives snake behavior in the wild? We keep captives. Many of us do not get the opportunity to get into the field.

What drives snake behavior? Hunger? Yes! Sex? Yes! Retreat from danger and the elements? Yes! If we get more specific (what does the individual snake "want"?) - OH, TO PONDER! How can I be Mr. Snake without all the human mumbo jumbo wishful thinking???? Okay, here goes...
...I mean like if a snake could self realize in our manner...

Once upon a time in a meadow mouse's hole..

Just ate 3 pinkies alive...lump in my throat....need a drink....that mother mouse bit me....too cold outside....gonna get indigestion....stuffs gonna rot....where's a warm rock?...darn I'm slow...Hey! a warm moment...make a slither for that pile of boards...under this board too cool...under that board too hot (catching too much sun)...this board is just right (cool and damp on the bottom, warm above)...HEY! What are you guys doing here?... are you gonna eat me? flick, flick... You don't smell dangerous... flick, flick! You're not a female... hmmm.... Guess I'll stick around for a while...

I'm sorry...can't do it. How could I even begin to imagine? Humans really are silly at times. HA! How can I be Mr. Snake.... Ridiculous