State agencies in Wisconsin have issued new consumption advisories for both fish and deer in and around the Town of Stella due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced a Do Not Eat fish advisory covering multiple nearby waterbodies after sampling showed elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a specific PFAS compound, in the tissue of every fish tested. The same announcement includes a deer advisory for hunters: limit muscle meat (venison) from deer harvested within a five-mile radius of Stellas town hall to one meal per month, and do not eat liver from deer in that advisory area. The fish advisory applies to the Moen Chain of LakesMoen Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, Fourth Lake, and Fifth Lakealong with Sunset Lake, Starks Creek (upstream to and including Starks Spring), and Snowden Lake. According to the agencies, fish were collected from the Moen Chain and Snowden Lake as part of contaminant monitoring. Laboratory analysis found elevated PFOS in samples from all species tested in these waterbodies, prompting the updated Do Not Eat guidance for the Moen Chain and new advisories for Snowden Lake, Sunset Lake, and Starks Creek upstream to Starks Spring. The agencies described the updated recommendations as reflecting emerging science on PFOS and its health implications. For deer, the venison guidance stems from a targeted sampling effort in the Stella area during the 2024 hunting season. Because of high local interest in PFAS contamination, the DNR asked hunters within a three-mile radius to donate muscle and liver samples from harvested deer. A total of 11 deer were sampled and analyzed by DNR and DHS. Results showed elevated PFAS levels in muscle tissue from deer taken in the area, leading the agencies to expand the advisory to a five-mile radius around the town hall with a limit of one venison meal per month. Testing also found significant PFAS levels in deer liver. Because the liver filters chemicals from the blood and PFAS can accumulate there over time, DHS and DNR advise against eating deer liver from within the advisory boundary. PFAS are a family of human-made chemicals used for decades in products such as non-stick cookware, fast-food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays, and certain firefighting foams. The contaminants can enter the environment through several pathways, including spills, wastewater discharges, and the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams. The agencies public health summary notes that consuming fish and wildlife with high PFAS levels can allow these chemicals to build up in the body. Reported health risks include increased cholesterol levels, decreased immune response, and decreased fertility in women, among other effects. The agencies recommend that anglers and hunters in the Stella region follow the updated guidance to reduce exposure. For anglers, that means avoiding consumption of fish from the listed lakes and creek segments. For hunters, it means observing the one-meal-per-month venison limit for deer harvested within five miles of Stellas town hall and not eating deer liver from that same advisory area. The DNR points residents to its Choose Wisely booklet for a complete list of current fish consumption advisories and to its Safely Eating Venison resources for more details on deer consumption. Together, the advisories aim to give the public clear, location-specific steps to manage risk while maintaining access to local fishing and hunting traditions. These advisories reflect an ongoing monitoring effort as agencies incorporate new toxicological information and local sampling results. The DNR and DHS emphasize that adhering to consumption guidance is a practical way for households to reduce PFAS exposure from locally caught fish and harvested game until contaminant levels decline or further updates are issued.