The Wisconsin DNR needs help from deer hunters to better understand if local perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFAS — are accumulating in white-tailed deer near the Town of Stella in Oneida County.
The DNR needs deer tissue samples from hunters who harvest a deer during any of the 2024 deer hunting seasons (archery, gun or muzzleloader) within a 3-mile radius of the Town of Stella.
Interested hunters will need to submit 100 grams (about the size of an adult thumb) of both muscle and liver tissue, along with harvest location details such as GPS, nearest street address or nearest intersection. Wrap samples in aluminum foil and place them in a zip-close bag. Drop it off at the CWD kiosk in Rhinelander.
Samples go to the State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison for processing. Hunters will receive a final report outlining the results of their deer’s tissue samples within 2-4 months after submission. Overall findings from testing efforts will go to the state Department of Health Services. DHS will determine if there needs to be any consumption advisories.
PFAS are human-made chemicals used in industrial processes and manufactured products. These substances don’t break down easily and can remain in the environment for a long time. PFAS can accumulate in the human body slowly over time through repeat exposure, most commonly by eating food or drinking water that contains PFAS. High levels of PFAS in the body are harmful to human health.
