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Questioning state’s deer warning

Your readers have been made aware of the warning from officials of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health and Human Services:

DO NOT EAT MEAT FROM ANY DEER TAKEN WITHIN FIVE MILES OF CLARK’S MARSH IN OSCODA TOWNSHIP.

Twenty deer from the impacted area around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base were tested. One deer had PFOs at 547 parts per billion in its muscle tissue, exceeding the action level.

Does Michigan’s government care about the welfare of the people who reside in and visit the area? If really concerned, they would have issued a DO NOT EAT warning for waterfowl which inhabit/frequent ponds, rivers, and lakes within the locus. Fishing in all water sources falling within the five-mile region would also come under said caution. Should not small game in the vicinity fall under the warning? Finally, the state should also serve notice that cattle, sheep, pigs, and other farm animals which may drink from waters in the contaminated locale ought also not be consumed. What about fruits and vegetables grown in the zone of contamination?

I would hope that individuals with a scientific background greater than mine examine and report on the issue further. From my limited knowledge of the subject, I am of the understanding that PFOs are or have been present almost everywhere — burger wrappers, popcorn bags, Scotch Guard, Goretex, etc.

One has to wonder if our leaders are not over-reacting following the lead/water crisis in Flint. Between this and bovine tuberculous, why not just declare Oscoda and the surrounding locales a disaster area and beg for assistance from the government. Yes, you can call me skeptical.

DENNIS A. ROY,

Oscoda

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