I'm 10 mins from Lake Erie and can say I've never seen any snakes. Not saying they're aren't any, just that I've never seen them. I also go up around the Erie islands and love it up there. I have a place on the portage river and it's a blast. Check out erie islands marina and resort, it's a great place to stay and they have a boat launch and dockage available. It's on the river and minutes from the lake and half hour to the islands.