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Wisconsin Issues New PFAS Consumption Advisories for Fish, Deer, and Ducks
Wisconsin’s DNR has issued new consumption advisories for fish, deer, and ducks contaminated with dangerous PFAS chemicals across certain areas of the state.
The advisories affect hunters and anglers in Oneida County near the Town of Stella and throughout Green Bay, where high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been detected in wildlife tissue. PFAS are synthetic “forever chemicals” used in everyday products like non-stick cookware and food packaging that persist in the environment and accumulate in animal tissue over time.
The contamination stems from the Ahlstrom-Munksjö paper mill in Rhinelander, which historically spread PFAS-contaminated sludge from its wastewater treatment on agricultural fields in the area since the 1980s Wisconsin DNRWisconsin Examiner.
In Green Bay, researchers have traced the contamination to Tyco Fire Products in Marinette. From the 1960s until 2017, the company used PFAS-containing firefighting foam for training and testing, and the chemicals spread through groundwater into the bay WPRWisconsin DNR. When consumed, these substances pose health risks, including increased cholesterol and weakened immune function.
Residents and Hunters Express Concerns
The new advisories have left both recreational users and affected residents grappling with the reality of widespread contamination just as hunting season approaches.
“This is probably the last thing that you want to read about or hear about three weeks out from the opening of the south zone duck season,” said Roger Hanson, President of the Green Bay Duck Hunters Association. “It’s very disappointing when something like a forever chemical comes along.” Youth Waterfowl Day preview from Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico
In the Town of Stella, residents like Robin and Dave Gorman are dealing with contamination levels reaching 8,500 parts per trillion in their well water. “You live on a lake. You have all the toys to play on it. We have grandkids. Then you think about your property value. It’s very concerning,” said Robin Gorman, whose Snowden Lake property is affected by the contamination.
“We’re also hoping that they can find or pinpoint sources, where it’s coming from, and put a stop to it,” said Dave Gorman. “There’s been a lot of dumping going on in this area.”
Even state officials were surprised by the extent of the problem. “We’re never too surprised to find it, but we were a little bit surprised to see the extent of the levels that we did see in these ducks from lower Green Bay,” said Wisconsin DNR Fish & Wildlife Toxicologist Sean Strom. Youth Waterfowl Day preview from Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico
Complete Fish Ban Near Stella
Officials issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all fish species from several waterbodies in the Town of Stella area, including the entire Moen Chain of Lakes, Sunset Lake, Starks Creek upstream to Starks Spring, and Snowden Lake.
The restriction follows contaminant monitoring that revealed elevated PFOS levels in fish tissue from these waters. The advisory reflects new consumption guidelines developed to address emerging science on PFOS contamination.
PFAS advisory zones around the Town of Stella in Oneida County show ‘Do Not Eat’ areas for fish (red zones) and deer consumption limits within a 5-mile radius of the town hall. Map: Wisconsin DNR
Deer Hunting Restrictions Expanded
Hunters harvesting deer within a five-mile radius of the Town of Stella town hall now face strict consumption limits. Officials recommend eating venison muscle tissue no more than once per month and completely avoiding deer liver.
The advisory stems from testing of 11 deer donated by hunters during the 2024 season within a three-mile radius of the area. Results showed elevated PFAS levels in muscle tissue, while liver samples contained significantly higher concentrations due to the organ’s role in filtering toxins from blood.
Green Bay Duck Advisory
Duck hunters on Green Bay must now navigate location-specific consumption rules. In Lower Green Bay from Longtail Point to Point au Sable and south to the Fox River mouth, mallards carry a complete “Do Not Eat” advisory.
Wisconsin DNR’s new duck consumption advisory map for Green Bay outlines complete mallard bans in the southern bay and monthly consumption limits in northern areas due to PFAS contamination.
In the northern section from Marinette to Sturgeon Bay and south to Longtail Point, hunters may consume mallards once monthly and wood ducks once weekly.
The waterfowl advisory affects the upcoming fall hunting season and replaces previous guidelines based on polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
Hunters and anglers can find complete consumption advisories in the Choose Wisely booklet and additional venison safety information on the DNR’s website.
The post Wisconsin Issues New PFAS Consumption Advisories for Fish, Deer, and Ducks appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
Wisconsin Issues New PFAS Consumption Advisories for Fish, Deer, and Ducks
Wisconsin’s DNR has issued new consumption advisories for fish, deer, and ducks contaminated with dangerous PFAS chemicals across certain areas of the state.
The advisories affect hunters and anglers in Oneida County near the Town of Stella and throughout Green Bay, where high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been detected in wildlife tissue. PFAS are synthetic “forever chemicals” used in everyday products like non-stick cookware and food packaging that persist in the environment and accumulate in animal tissue over time.
The contamination stems from the Ahlstrom-Munksjö paper mill in Rhinelander, which historically spread PFAS-contaminated sludge from its wastewater treatment on agricultural fields in the area since the 1980s Wisconsin DNRWisconsin Examiner.
In Green Bay, researchers have traced the contamination to Tyco Fire Products in Marinette. From the 1960s until 2017, the company used PFAS-containing firefighting foam for training and testing, and the chemicals spread through groundwater into the bay WPRWisconsin DNR. When consumed, these substances pose health risks, including increased cholesterol and weakened immune function.
Residents and Hunters Express Concerns
The new advisories have left both recreational users and affected residents grappling with the reality of widespread contamination just as hunting season approaches.
“This is probably the last thing that you want to read about or hear about three weeks out from the opening of the south zone duck season,” said Roger Hanson, President of the Green Bay Duck Hunters Association. “It’s very disappointing when something like a forever chemical comes along.” Youth Waterfowl Day preview from Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico
In the Town of Stella, residents like Robin and Dave Gorman are dealing with contamination levels reaching 8,500 parts per trillion in their well water. “You live on a lake. You have all the toys to play on it. We have grandkids. Then you think about your property value. It’s very concerning,” said Robin Gorman, whose Snowden Lake property is affected by the contamination.
“We’re also hoping that they can find or pinpoint sources, where it’s coming from, and put a stop to it,” said Dave Gorman. “There’s been a lot of dumping going on in this area.”
Even state officials were surprised by the extent of the problem. “We’re never too surprised to find it, but we were a little bit surprised to see the extent of the levels that we did see in these ducks from lower Green Bay,” said Wisconsin DNR Fish & Wildlife Toxicologist Sean Strom. Youth Waterfowl Day preview from Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico
Complete Fish Ban Near Stella
Officials issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all fish species from several waterbodies in the Town of Stella area, including the entire Moen Chain of Lakes, Sunset Lake, Starks Creek upstream to Starks Spring, and Snowden Lake.
The restriction follows contaminant monitoring that revealed elevated PFOS levels in fish tissue from these waters. The advisory reflects new consumption guidelines developed to address emerging science on PFOS contamination.
PFAS advisory zones around the Town of Stella in Oneida County show ‘Do Not Eat’ areas for fish (red zones) and deer consumption limits within a 5-mile radius of the town hall. Map: Wisconsin DNR
Deer Hunting Restrictions Expanded
Hunters harvesting deer within a five-mile radius of the Town of Stella town hall now face strict consumption limits. Officials recommend eating venison muscle tissue no more than once per month and completely avoiding deer liver.
The advisory stems from testing of 11 deer donated by hunters during the 2024 season within a three-mile radius of the area. Results showed elevated PFAS levels in muscle tissue, while liver samples contained significantly higher concentrations due to the organ’s role in filtering toxins from blood.
Green Bay Duck Advisory
Duck hunters on Green Bay must now navigate location-specific consumption rules. In Lower Green Bay from Longtail Point to Point au Sable and south to the Fox River mouth, mallards carry a complete “Do Not Eat” advisory.
Wisconsin DNR’s new duck consumption advisory map for Green Bay outlines complete mallard bans in the southern bay and monthly consumption limits in northern areas due to PFAS contamination.
In the northern section from Marinette to Sturgeon Bay and south to Longtail Point, hunters may consume mallards once monthly and wood ducks once weekly.
The waterfowl advisory affects the upcoming fall hunting season and replaces previous guidelines based on polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
Hunters and anglers can find complete consumption advisories in the Choose Wisely booklet and additional venison safety information on the DNR’s website.
The post Wisconsin Issues New PFAS Consumption Advisories for Fish, Deer, and Ducks appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...