I helped a neighbor out several years ago when they called and said they had a rattlesnake in their yard. When I took my snake grabber and bucket up to relocate, discovered it was a little Gopher snake coiled, and shaking it's tail while making a hissing noise with it's mouth. I shared how important they are in controlling Rats and Mice and we watched him move away back into the planter. We have a number of them on our property, including the elder stateman....a very thick one that is close to 4.5 feet.