Remember when everything in nature wasn't trying to hurt you?

I won't get on one of those soapboxes and start shaking my fist at the air over "how things used to be". Things change. People change. But, we'd all like to think nature doesn't change much. But, there are basically two kinds of people in this world... Ones who think everything is fine, and ones who think everything is screwed.

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There's definitely a place in the middle. But I do know for sure, that there are things we're doing to change the environment. One things that seems to have gotten the attention of people on both sides of the political aisles, because almost everything environmental becomes political, as PFAS. Aka, forever chemicals.

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What are PFAS?

Oil barrels
Andrey Korobov
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PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that are basically everything-proof. They're resistant to heat, water, and oil. They've been used for decades in various sectors of the manufacturing industry, and in recent years have posed a lot of risk for farmers. It's essentially impossible to get rid of these chemicals, and once they've taken hold, they're literally forever. Hence, the name.

Pesticide spraying
Mihajlo Maricic
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Slowly, what has once mostly affected farmers is now getting into the forests and contaminating fish and wildlife populations. According to News Center Maine, consuming these chemicals could cause cancer, decrease infant size, increase cholesterol levels, and affect the immune system.

Large white-tailed deer buck in an open meadow in Smoky Mountain National Park
EEI_Tony
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Which towns are currently most affected?

State officials have issued warnings in the towns of Unity, Unity Township, Albion, Freedom, Fairfield, and parts of Skowhegan. At the rate that people travel around the state to hunt, that could literally affect anyone in Maine. 55 deer and 54 turkeys were tested in these areas, all showed unacceptable levels of PFAS.

Read More: Here's Some Sweet Maine Hiking Spots Where Hunting Is Not Allowed

So this warning also extends to turkey hunters. And let's face it, one would assume if these levels are showing up in these animals, all other game would likely be affected. Bears, partridge, squirrels, etc. It's a sad scene, and bad news for Maine's hunters. Luckily, it's contained in these areas. Well, for now...

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