Concerning environmental contaminants, game species are not subject to the same safety testing as commercially marketed livestock.
Concerning environmental contaminants, game species are not subject to the same safety testing as commercially marketed livestock. A recent study sampled feral pigs, gray squirrels, and waterfowl from relatively uncontaminated habitats and areas of contamination.
Investigators found that many of the game species from contaminated areas had detectable levels of contaminants. A number of waterfowl tissues were above levels that might cause concern for the health of the birds and humans that consume game; however, the majority of tissue samples analyzed were below levels known to adversely affect wildlife health.
Of special concern are migratory waterfowl that can expose hunters to contaminants thousands of kilometers from point sources.
The study is published in the Journal of Wildlife Management.
Additional Information
Link to Study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.21314/full
About Journal
The Journal of Wildlife Management publishes manuscripts containing information from original research that contributes to basic wildlife science. Suitable topics include investigations into the biology and ecology of wildlife and their habitats that has direct or indirect implications for wildlife management and conservation. This includes basic information on wildlife habitat use, reproduction, genetics, demographics, viability, predator-prey relationships, space-use, movements, behavior, and physiology; but within the context of contemporary management and conservation issues such that the knowledge may ultimately be useful to wildlife practitioners.
Penny Smith
+44 (0) 1243 770448
sciencenewsroom@wiley.com