DNR and DHS Issue New PFAS-based Consumption Advisories for Fish and Deer Near town of Stella and Surrounding Waterbodies in Oneida County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced new deer and fish consumption advisories for the Town of Stella and nearby waterbodies due to the contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Fish Consumption Advisory

The DNR and DHS have issued a “Do Not Eat” PFAS-based consumption advisory for all fish species from the Moen Chain of Lakes (including Moen Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, Fourth Lake, Fifth Lake), Sunset Lake, Starks Creek (upstream to and including Starks Spring) and Snowden Lake.

Fish were collected from the Moen Lake Chain and Snowden Lake in a sampling effort for contaminant monitoring. Results from these sampling efforts showed elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a type of PFAS, in the tissue of all fish sampled from these waterbodies.

Based on this and new consumption guidelines developed to reflect emerging science on PFOS, the DNR and DHS are recommending an updated advisory for the Moen Lake Chain and new advisories for Snowden Lake, Sunset Lake and Starks Creek upstream to Starks Spring.

Deer Consumption Advisory

The DNR and DHS have also issued new PFAS-based guidance for the consumption of deer harvested within a 5-mile radius of the Town of Stella’s town hall. The new guidance for consuming muscle tissue from harvested deer in this area is one meal per month, and “Do Not Eat” for liver.

Due to the community’s high interest in PFAS contamination near the Town of Stella, the DNR asked hunters within a 3-mile radius to donate muscle and liver samples from their harvests during the 2024 hunting season. A total of 11 deer were sampled, and the results were analyzed by the DNR and the DHS.

Testing showed elevated PFAS levels in the muscle (venison) of deer harvested from this area. Because of these findings, the DNR and DHS have issued a one-meal-per-month PFAS-based consumption advisory for deer muscle (venison) in a 5-mile radius around the Town of Stella’s town hall.

Sampling results also showed significant PFAS levels in deer liver tissues. The liver filters chemicals from the blood, and some chemicals, like PFAS, can accumulate in the liver over time. These findings suggest that eating liver from deer in this area is likely to result in significant PFAS exposure. DHS and DNR recommend people not eat liver harvested from deer within the advisory area.

Following fish and wildlife consumption advisories will help protect you from consuming PFAS-contaminated tissue, which can cause the chemicals to accumulate in the body. A complete list of up-to-date fish consumption advisories can be found in the Choose Wisely booklet. More information on safe deer consumption can be found on the DNR’s Safely Eating Venison webpage.

Information About PFAS

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used for decades in various products, such as non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foams. These contaminants have made their way into the environment in a variety of ways, including spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants, and use of certain types of firefighting foams.

Health risks may increase when fish and wildlife with high levels of PFAS are consumed. These can include increased cholesterol levels, decreased immune response, and decreased fertility in women, among other health effects. More information is available on the DHS website.

Additional information on the effects of PFAS can be found on the DNR’s website.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.