I had about a 4' king snake in my duck run Wednesday. The same kind that killed my baby duck last year only a couple of feet smaller. I'm NOT having it because like you said I can visualize it wrapping around my adult ducks and squeezing the life out of them if they get to curious and start pecking around it. I don't think I could grab it like you did though. I would stand there screaming! You are a brave man who conquers fear! Oh, that snake (hopefully THAT snake) is no longer a threat!I just hate snakes! And when i saw that thing curled around my duck's neck - It could have been a 15' long Anaconda and i would tried to save the duck!
I haven't seen skinks here, but we have plenty of lizards here helping to keep the insect population down. They are afraid of the ducks and run or hide if one approaches.