DNR asks hunters near Stella to donate deer tissue samples for PFAS testing

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks deer hunters to donate deer tissue samples to test if 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 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. Samples should be wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a zip-close bag, then dropped off at the CWD kiosk in Rhinelander.

All samples will be processed in the order in which they are received by the State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison. 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 be shared with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to determine whether any consumption advisories are warranted.

PFAS are human-made chemicals used in industrial processes and manufactured products. PFAS 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.

For more information regarding the local impacts of PFAS to the Town of Stella community, visit the PFAS Contamination in the Town of Stella webpage at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/PFAS/Stella.html. 

To learn about safely consuming fish and game, visit the Safely Eating Wild Game (https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/eatsafe) and Eating Your Catch (https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/consumption) webpages.