Despite the odds of ever encountering one are incredibly slim, Michigan’s only venomous native snake is now getting a little too much attention after a recent bite at a state park.

Officials with the state Department of Natural Resources are now noticing more damage to areas that the eastern massasauga rattlesnake calls home and are asking people to give the threatened snakes space. Read on for the full story.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Michigan to spend $150M on educator bonuses (Bridge Michigan): Michigan schools will have $150 million to distribute as one-time bonuses to teachers and other school employees as part of the new education budget. But lawmakers say temporary payments won’t solve the state’s low starting teacher pay. Michigan ranks 45th nationally for starting teacher salaries, with school leaders pushing for more permanent increases to attract and retain teachers.

Introduced MI Senate bill would rein in Flock use (WILX): A Michigan state Senator has introduced a bill to limit police access to automatic license plate reader databases, citing privacy concerns over the cameras’ ability to track the movements of drivers. The proposal by state Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) would require warrants in most cases and cut data retention from 30 days to 14.

Lawsuits rise in cyclosporiasis outbreak (The Detroit News): Fourteen lawsuits have been filed against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over Michigan’s massive cyclosporiasis outbreak, with attorneys expecting potentially hundreds more claims nationwide. Cases of the parasitic illness have exceeded 12,000 in Michigan, but are now on the decline.

Michigan is a stronghold for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, which is both state and federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

In the wake of a man being bitten by an eastern massasauga rattlesnake at a state-managed park in Oakland County last month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging the public not to harm, harass, or attempt to capture the threatened species.

On July 21, a 41-year-old Michigan man was bitten by an eastern massasauga while attempting to photograph the snake at a boat launch in the Proud Lake Recreation Area in Commerce Township. The man was hospitalized and was expected to recover.

Officials at state parks are reporting damage to wetlands areas as people veer off established trails and trample vulnerable vegetation looking for the venomous snakes, DNR officials said. Some people are threatening to kill the snakes if they encounter them.

Random tidbits worth clicking on…

See the path of past eclipses and find the next big eclipse near you using Where the Shadow Fell. (Where the Shadow Fell/Screenshot)

🕶️ Tomorrow’s solar eclipse won’t be very visible from Michigan, but it might make you curious about the next one. If that’s the case, check out the site Where the Shadow Fell, which let’s you see the paths of previous eclipses, and even find the next big one you can see from your city.

🤢 Move over lettuce, a new food that’ll make us sick is in town. The FDA is warning that some products containing jalapeños could be contaminated with salmonella.

🥵 In a sobering reminder that global warming is a massive ongoing threat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that this past July was the hottest month on record in the Lower 48. 

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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