Health assessors from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources determined that samples of wild game taken in 2003, 2004 and 2007 from the floodplains of the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River downstream of Midland contain high levels of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Wild game that have been tested include deer, turkey, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, wood duck and Canada goose. As a result, the MDCH advises that hunters and their families follow these recommendations related to waterfowl:

• Do not eat the skin of Canada goose or wood duck harvested in or near the floodplain of the Tittabawassee River downstream of Midland and in or near the floodplain of the Saginaw River. MDCH recommends that you remove the skin of waterfowl before cooking and discard the liver and other internal organs.

Additional information regarding dioxin, dioxin-like compounds and wild-game advisories for the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River floodplains, including a map of the area covered by these advisories, is available on the MDCH website at www.michigan.gov/dioxin.