DNR endangered species biologist Amy Bleisch tells us the massasauga rattlesnake is Michigan’s only venomous snake and can be found throughout the Lower Peninsula, including in Southwest Michigan. So if you’re two to three feet away, it’s physically impossible for this snake to bite you. Bleisch says the massasauga rattlesnake is generally tan with large brown splotches on its back that resemble a video game controller or a bowtie. She advises people to stick to the trails when they’re out in nature to avoid the snake. You can learn more about the massasauga rattlesnake right here.