I only saw him partially stretched out at one point but I'd say at least 4 ft in length, for sure. He felt really thick when I "grabbed" him with the tongs and it felt heavy lifting him.
It's known the older ones are not nearly as aggressive and he never reared back/coiled. I did have a small, young one sidewind his way directly towards me one time down at the entrance to the pool. I shoveled him up with the leaf screener and flung him across the street into the desert.
Also I think I heard western snakes are not as aggressive as eastern rattlers.
But what really made it an episode is Barbara chasing the dog around while he thought she was playing with him all the while the cat being loose.
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