ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In a troubling revelation, environmental regulators and health officials in New Mexico are alerting hunters about alarming levels of hazardous chemicals known to be carcinogenic found in birds, small mammals, and vegetation around a lake adjacent to Holloman Air Force Base.
State authorities report that these levels rank among the highest recorded globally in wildlife and plant life when compared to existing studies. Researchers engaged by the state analyzed various tissue types, including muscle, liver, and bone samples from ducks, other avian species, and small mammals. They also examined eggshells, algae, and skin shed from rattlesnakes.
These findings similarly align with a broader trend observed in multiple states over recent years, where health advisories have been issued related to “forever chemicals,” specifically PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—in wild animals hunted for food and recreation. From Maine to Michigan, wildlife managers and researchers have expanded testing efforts as the issue gains prominence.
PFAS chemicals are under increasing scrutiny from public health and environmental organizations due to their resistance to natural degradation, lingering in both the environment and human bloodstream indefinitely.
In New Mexico, the focus is on a lake that acts as a wastewater reservoir for Holloman Air Force Base, located on the fringes of the base and close to White Sands National Park. Although hunting is now restricted in that area, officials fear that migratory birds dependent on the lake could be harvested elsewhere, posing risks to hunters.
“The levels of PFAS contamination detected in Holloman Lake are extremely troubling, particularly for hunters who may have eaten waterfowl from this region over the last decade,” noted Miranda Durham, the medical director for New Mexico’s Department of Health.
On Monday, officials like Durham leveraged the recent report to urge federal authorities to act, particularly as legal disputes regarding the cleanup of Holloman and adjacent Cannon Air Force Base continue.
Contamination at various military sites across the U.S., largely due to firefighting foams used in training, presents a significant challenge, with cleanups projected to cost billions and span several years.
The New Mexico research indicates a necessity for further examination of more waterfowl and oryx samples to assess the risks faced by hunters beyond the immediate areas impacted by contamination.
Tasha Stoiber, a senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group, expressed her alarm at the PFAS levels in the wildlife sampled. However, she added that such findings are unsurprising considering the widespread presence of these chemicals, commonly found in nonstick cookware and numerous other products.
“These chemicals can accumulate in the human body over time, posing serious long-term health threats, including cancer and immune system issues,” Stoiber commented. “The situation at Holloman Lake underscores the pressing need to further investigate the impacts of PFAS contamination in wildlife and surrounding ecosystems.”
In Maine, officials are collaborating with academic researchers to monitor deer and turkey movement in an effort to grasp potential exposure risks. The state has advisories in place for three locations, one covering a 25 square mile area, where risk is heightened due to past use of contaminated fertilizers—now a banned practice in the region.
“We’ve put out some advisories, but it’s not widespread at a landscape level,” said Nate Webb, Maine’s wildlife director. Yet he acknowledged that with increased sampling, more sites are revealing the presence of PFAS.
New Mexico regulators highlight that the situation at Holloman Lake exemplifies the extensive environmental reach of these chemicals, linking the state’s ecosystems to its cultural and economic vitality.
Matthew Monjaras, who has pursued hunting for over twenty years, is passionate about sharing this tradition with his children and improving outdoor access for veterans and youth through restoration projects. Despite concerns about potential exposure from eating migratory waterfowl, Monjaras argues that these risks are comparable to those associated with store-bought meat or other game.
“We are shaped by our environment,” he stated, acknowledging the complex realities of the food chain.
