Order Your Squirrel

[Furryanimal]

Just add wine, veg and spices. Getty

Environmental campaigners are urging Brits to eat squirrels, says Sophie Morris in the I newspaper, because ballooning populations are damaging local ecosystems. I ordered two “vacuum-packed critters”, priced at £4.95 each, which arrived “beautifully skinned, with deep purple flesh”. They’re a bit of a faff to prepare – “squirrels are small, therefore they have tiny bones” – but the meat “speaks for itself in terms of depth of flavour”. After dicing and cooking them with some wine, veg and spices, the resulting ragù was “meltingly soft”.

 

[NorthernLight]

I lived in West Virginia for 3 years. People there liked to do things the traditional "poverty" way, even if they had plenty of money. One day my boyfriend served me some squirrel gravy. I ate it and tried to be polite.

He said he was thrilled that I "enjoyed" it. I was terrified that he'd make it again, but he never did.

 

[BC Flash]

I thought squirrels were cute until someone commented that they were RATS WITH BUSHY TAILS!! I still put out food for the squirrels in the winter and view them as CUTE RATS!!

 

[RadishRose]

IMO, they are too cute to eat.

 

[debodun]

Sustenance of early American settlers and Native Americans.

 

[debodun]

I lived in West Virginia for 3 years. People there liked to do things the traditional "poverty" way, even if they had plenty of money. One day my boyfriend served me some squirrel gravy. I ate it and tried to be polite.

He said he was thrilled that I "enjoyed" it. I was terrified that he'd make it again, but he never did.

You're a good actress.

 

[Medusa]

I've never had one, but my understanding is that squirrels are actually tasty because of their diet of nuts and seeds.

 

[Medusa]

IMO, they are too cute to eat.

I think they're cute too. - Cept when they do that weird screechy thing. That's a bit unsettling.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Just Wt!!!

 

[Lilac]

I have fox, gray, black & piney squirrels on my property. They help themselves to corn from Hubby's homemade deer feeder. I call them my Cornbellies because they have gotten so fat. No squirrels in our meal planning.

Every once in a while, one will look in the living room by hanging on the middle of the window screen. We both like to watch them, even the cats.

P.S. More squirrels than deer eat from the feeder.

 

[Wren]

I was done at the ‘deep purple flesh’.....

 

[Medusa]

Just Wt!!!

What's wrong? What am I missing?

 

[RadishRose]

 

[Lilac]

Just googled ordering squirrel in the U.K. & this is what came up first, 5 different articles on Russian squirrel propaganda.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ms-Britain-starving-forced-eat-squirrels.html

 

[Marie5656]

A rat owner forum I belong to on FB calls them Tree Rats

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Just Wt!!!

It wasn’t directly at you or anyone personally.

 

[Medusa]

It wasn’t directly at you or anyone personally.

Oh gosh, I know. I'm just genuinely curious. I was wondering why you reacted to the eating of squirrels.
I didn't mean it in a confrontational way at all.

 

[jujube]

I had squirrel once as a kid. It tasted pretty good but I had to be careful not to bite down on the buckshot. I think we got it from one of my dad's country cousins.

I'd probably try it again but minus the crunchy bits.

 

[RadishRose]

Just googled ordering squirrel in the U.K. & this is what came up first, 5 different articles on Russian squirrel propaganda.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ms-Britain-starving-forced-eat-squirrels.html

OMG. Here she is:

Olga Skabeyeva
Olga Vladimirovna Skabeyeva or Skabeeva is a Russian television presenter, political commentator, and propagandist. Skabeyeva received the nickname "Iron Doll of Putin TV" due to her criticism of the Russian opposition.Wikipedia

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Oh gosh, I know. I'm just genuinely curious. I was wondering why you reacted to the eating of squirrels.
I didn't mean it in a confrontational way at all.

I truly find humanity barbaric at times. Out of all the food sources the world has to offer, why kill and eat a squirrel? Sure I understand being lost and stranded with nothing to eat, killing a squirrel out of desperation . That’s probably the only situation I can think of why anyone would do such a thing but then again I honestly think humanity are savages and have my own reasons for thinking so.

 

[Becky1951]

I've ate lots of squirrels in my life, I've hunted, skinned and cleaned them, rabbits also. Very tasty fried, baked or in stews and soups. Yes they are cute and fun to watch and would never kill one unless for food, I no longer hunt so they are all safe around me.

However I won't refuse one when offered by others who do hunt.

 

[Medusa]

I truly find humanity barbaric at times. Out of all the food sources the world has to offer, why kill and eat a squirrel? Sure I understand being lost and stranded with nothing to eat, killing a squirrel out of desperation . That’s probably the only situation I can think of why anyone would do such a thing but then again I honestly think humanity are savages and have my own reasons for thinking so.

I think the issue here is that England, Wales and Ireland are experiencing a over-run of grey squirrels, which have pushed out their red squirrel populations and they are trying to level the field a bit by introducing a new food source.

Having said that, I don't eat red meat, was a vegan for several years and respect your rights to your own feelings about the matter.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

I think the issue here is that England, Wales and Ireland are experiencing a over-run of grey squirrels, which have pushed out their red squirrel populations and they are trying to level the field a bit by introducing a new food source.

Having said that, I don't eat red meat, was a vegan for several years and respect your rights to your own feelings about the matter.

Ok that’s another reason. That’s when a cute innocent animal becomes a pest so I can also understand and respect that.

Where I am, they are cute little creatures to be adored. Since I feed the birds, I see a few of them everyday. Our dogs love being the squirrel police and chasing them away every now and then.

btw… thank you.

 

[Magna-Carta]

I’ve not heard this story. I would have thought though that the campaign is to eat the aggressive grey squirrel that was brought to the UK from North America in the late 1800’s, as opposed to the indigenous UK Red Squirrel, which is protected.

In the UK the North America grey squirrels is considered an invasive species. Efforts are being made to control its population and protect the remaining red squirrels. The aggressive grey squirrel drives out the red squirrel. I think the grey squirrels also have a virus of some kind that they are immune to, but kills the red squirrel?

Just found this: “It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take (capture) a red squirrel. Damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which a red squirrel uses for shelter or protection. Disturb a red squirrel while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose.”

 

[Alligatorob]

I've hunted and eaten squirrel. Really like squirrel gumbo.

However for the most part they are a lot of trouble for a little meat.

My grandfather used to talk about eating them regularly as a boy, that would have been around 1900.

We had white squirrels where I used to live in Florida, a variant of the grey squirrel, not albinos.

https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/white-squirrel-of-sopchoppy/