MAINE, USA — State wildlife and health officials have issued a Do Not Eat Wildlife Consumption Advisory for two different regions that impact portions of Unity, Unity Township, Albion, and Freedom.
These advisory areas are in addition to other advisory areas in Fairfield and parts of Skowhegan.
The two new consumption advisory areas were based upon the testing of 54 deer and 55 turkeys in eastern Kennebec and western Waldo counties for the presence of PFAS, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shared in a news release. One advisory covers 5.5 square miles, and the other advisory area spans 4.3 square miles, according to the release.
"The Department and the Maine CDC recommend that no one eats deer or wild turkey harvested in these wildlife consumption advisory areas," the release stated.
Known as “forever chemicals” since they are very slow to break down, PFAS persist in the environment and are found in soil, water, plants, and animals. Over time, exposure to these chemicals have been known to increase the risk of some types of cancer, decrease infant and fetal growth, increase cholesterol levels, and impair the immune system.
MDIFW said it sampled wildlife throughout the Unity/Thorndike/Albion area, and research showed that wildlife sampled within a mile of areas with high PFAS soil concentration levels resulted in animals that had levels of PFAS in their muscle tissue that warranted an advisory.
"The Department plans to continue to work with the Maine CDC, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry concerning PFAS and testing," the release stated. "The Department will continue to test deer, and other wildlife in the area and beyond, to try and determine the extent of PFAS in Maine’s wildlife."
New Hampshire, Michigan, and Wisconsin have also issued consumption advisories concerning PFAS and deer, according to MDIFW. New Hampshire and Wisconsin’s advisories are for non-consumption of the liver and does not include meat, officials said.
Those who have questions can visit the state's PFAS Advisory page or contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at 207-287-8000 or IFW.PFAS@maine.gov.
For information on Maine's hunting seasons, click here.
