The expanded advisory against eating meat from deer and turkeys in certain parts of the state is the latest consequence of Maine’s state-licensed program for farmers to use sewage sludge to fertilize their fields. The sludge has since been found to be high in harmful forever chemicals.
By Penelope Overton, Portland Press Herald
With its most popular hunting season starting Saturday, Maine has expanded a “do not eat” advisory zone for deer and turkey bagged in central Maine due to elevated levels of harmful toxic chemicals detected in recent wildlife testing.
The hunting restriction is one of the unexpected consequences of Maine’s forever chemical crisis. The state encouraged farmers to recycle sewage sludge to fertilize the agricultural fields of central Maine. While treated for pathogens, the sludge was later found high in harmful forever chemicals.
The new advisory came out last week. Maine’s firearms hunting season starts Saturday for residents. That will be the first chance for hunters who don’t use a bow-and-arrow to bag their annual deer. Fall wild turkey season began in September, depending on the area, and ends Nov. 7.
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