Which squirrels can you eat

According to Chef Owen Brown, you should be wary about eating squirrel that comes to your backyard. Squirrel meat is considered unsafe for consumption during summer because of mites, lice, ticks, and other parasites. The best hunting season for squirrels is during the winter season. Some Squirrels carry a disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob. Source In New York, a man was reported to have contracted this disease after eating squirrel brains. Knowing the parts to avoid, when to hunt them and how to properly cook them, you can enjoy some squirrel meat.

For this method, you will need quartered squirrel meat. Some eggs, plain flour, breadcrumbs salt and pepper, and enough oil for deep frying. Toss the squirrel meat in the flour then dip it in the eggs. Then coat the meat with breadcrumbs. Heat the oil to about degrees Celsius. Place the meat in the oil and let it cook for about eight minutes before flipping it and frying for an additional five minutes. Slow cooking is the right way to prepare squirrel that is a bit older and bigger.

Cut them into 1-inch chunks. Their active lifestyles also have them develop powerful leg muscles, to the point the bulk of their meat will be found on their haunches, or hind legs. The taste of their meat reflects that, though you may want to steer clear of their stomachs just to be on the safe side.

Squirrels are an invasive species, like wild hogs and skunks. As such, hunting restrictions are laxer compared to other animals — the main concern is primarily the legality of your methods.

Make sure you check for legal documentation and restrictions before setting out. Squirrels are an invasive species for a reason, and not just because they breed quickly enough to offset population dips. The hunting process actually has quite a bit more in common with fishing than most expect, and waiting for half an hour for a good kill is better than stumbling around for a day only to go home with nothing.

Steer clear of food, drink, or anything that gives off signs of humans in an area. Avoid anything that could dampen or distract your periphery. Stick with items that offset physical strain, like cushions to sit on while you wait or warm clothing to beat back rough winds. Spooking squirrels is easy to do on accident, and the time it takes for them to return should fall within an hour at the most.

They make for very small targets that end up difficult to spot, and the method of killing them to preserve their meat and hide necessitates very precise shooting. You might have some luck scanning for rustling leaves or them pressed up against tree bark. One of their most common tricks is circling a tree trunk to lose their pursuers. No one wants to be played by a squirrel, so keep yourself wary of this common trick they employ. If you happen to bring a buddy along, the two of you could flank the animal.

Try to bait them to your position of choice, because most common squirrel spots are in pretty awkward areas — usually concealing foliage or atop tree branches. Draw them towards the ground, as shooting game in trees complicates accuracy, damage control, and even retrieval efforts.

Spot them with binoculars before approaching, and try to close to at least a hundred feet before taking the shot. As usual for small game animals, try to shoot them in the head.

This way leads to minimal pelt and meat damage while ensuring a quick and humane kill. Avoid shooting them while they directly face either towards or away from you, as this might risk overpenetration and more parts ruined.

Even small-caliber cartridges could lead to this issue. Winter is one of the worst months to hunt squirrels, as they usually have a good stockpile of food by then and are intended to wait out the worst of the cold. You might get some sparse activity here and there, but nothing one can seriously rely on. Instead, try to hunt them down in the months leading up to winter.

On another note, squirrels are diurnal, and can be very active during warmer periods of time. Hunting them in the summer months makes them easier to catch out, but comes with risks like parasites, which would be dead or gone should you find them in colder seasons. Clear weather also means more activity and an easier find. Light rain leads to them scurrying towards trees and clearings for cover, which can reduce the area you need to watch for while hunting.

Squirrel is an adaptable ingredient that can be enjoyed with a wide range of flavours. Unsurprisingly, it goes particularly well with nuts and berries but it also holds its own in big bold tomato sauces or creamy dishes. Recipes with bacon and sausages are also delicious and the pork fat helps prevent the meat drying out.

Herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley Spices: cayenne, paprika, chilli Alcohol: dry red wine e. Claret , cider, ale. Meet the producer — Truly Traceable Posted on February 23, Posted on February 01, Squirrel: why everyone should try it by Robert Gooch May 24 Many Americans consider squirrel the best meat in the woods — yet very few Brits have even tried it. What does squirrel taste like?