GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Officials are urging “understanding” over “fear” after a federally protected snake was recently found killed at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to a Facebook post over the weekend, an eastern massasauga rattlesnake was found dead. A University of Michigan Natural Areas Specialist told MLive that it appears the snake was killed with a blunt object. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is Michigan’s only venomous snake, but they aren’t much of a threat. “(The eastern massasauga) is a shy and reclusive neighbor who is far more interested in avoiding humans than engaging with them,” the post read. “These snakes play a vital role in the ecosystem, helping control rodent populations and maintaining balance in nature... This is a heartbreaking reminder that fear often overshadows understanding.” Michigan DNR verifies wild cougar cubs in U.P. for first time in decades The gardens also note that not only is harming the snakes — barring extreme circumstances — unnecessary, but also illegal. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016. A person found liable of violating the Endangered Species Act could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and a fine of $50,000. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the only venomous snake found in Michigan. It's also one of the state's threatened species. (Courtesy Michigan DNR) The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is native to the lower peninsula of Michigan and several other Great Lakes states but has since lost much of its habitat — wet meadows and floodplain forests. They seek out drier sites in the summer. The Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor is a natural habitat for the snake, and the Gardens’ website says several signs are posted around the grounds to inform visitors. DNR: Time’s coming to protect hemlocks from tiny invasive insect If a visitor spots one on the grounds, they are instructed to talk to the front desk and fill out an observation report on the DNR’s website. "Please be kind to snakes," the gardens requested in its post. Founded in 1907 in Ann Arbor along the Huron River, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum started as an 80-acre green space and has turned into more than 700 acres of gardens, nature preserves and research areas. ...read more read less