There Is Only One Venomous Snake To Fear In Michigan

As a kid, I spent much of my time at my friend's house. He had a forest in the backyard, and we loved walking the trails, but there was a warning we were told to follow each time we got there:

Don't enter through the front door.

It was an ominous warning, but the reason wasn't as scary as it sounded. The underside of the porch was home to many Garter snakes, but his parents always told us there was no reason to fear them because they were harmless. As it turns out, there is only one snake in Michigan you need to worry about, and it is incredibly rare.

Michigan's Only Poisonous Snake

The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is a pit viper known for its gray/brown blotches on its back and sides. The snake's darker, murkier color is beneficial since it likes to live in shallow wetlands and among logs. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake isn't very large, usually averaging 2-3 feet long.

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While "rattlesnake" and "venomous" are valid reasons to fear this snake, the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is actually very shy and will avoid humans as much as possible, so your odds of running into it are very slim. In fact, from 2003 to 2020, only 75 bites have been reported, and none have been fatal. You can listen to its distinct rattle below.

Endangered Species

You may never run into this snake because it is considered a "threatened" species. It was added to the endangered species list in 2016. Curiously, Michigan has become something of a haven for the snake. If you manage to stumble across this snake, it is in your and the snake's best interest to leave each other alone.

You can check out other endangered species around Michigan below.