parks
Oakland County man bitten by rattlesnake -- what to know about Michigan’s only venomous snake
Summary by The Detroit Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Samantha Sayles , WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· July 22, 2026
· 2 min read
An Oakland County man is receiving treatement after being bitten by Michigan’s only venomous snake on Tuesday. A 41-year-old Novi man was bitten on the hand by an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake at a boat launch at Proud Lake Recreation Area in Commerce Township on July 21. The man was taken to a ...
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Summary created by The Detroit Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Samantha Sayles, WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway A 41-year-old Novi man was bitten on the hand by an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake at a boat launch at Proud Lake Recreation Area in Commerce Township on July 21.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The incident at Proud Lake Recreation Area serves as a reminder that even in densely populated areas like Commerce Township, wildlife can still pose a threat. The presence of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes in Michigan's wetlands is a concern for outdoor enthusiasts and residents alike. As the species' population continues to decline due to habitat loss, it's crucial for the community to take steps to protect and preserve these areas. The fact that the victim had to be taken to a hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment highlights the need for local medical facilities to be equipped to handle such rare but potentially deadly emergencies. Residents and visitors to the area should be aware of the snake's presence and take necessary precautions when exploring wetland habitats, and the Commerce Township Fire Department's guidelines on what to do in case of an encounter or bite should be widely disseminated to prevent future incidents.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? An Oakland County man is receiving treatement after being bitten by Michigan’s only venomous snake on Tuesday. A 41-year-old Novi man was bitten on the hand by an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake at a boat launch at Proud Lake Recreation Area in Commerce Township on July 21. The man was taken to a ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Samantha Sayles at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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