Today I am going to discuss some information that is taught by the U.S Military about how to cook wildlife in emergency situations. Most of us have a pretty good idea on how to cook deer, elk and other common game. But what about the unusual animals you may have to eat when food is short.
Scavenger birds like crows, vultures and buzzards should be boiled for at least twenty minutes to kill the parasites, before cooking. Save the feathers of all birds, they can be used for insulation.
When cleaning game save the blood, boil it thoroughly. It is a good source of food and salt.
The kidneys, heart and liver should be saved, as they are very nutritious. Remember most parts of the animal are edible, including the fat surrounding the intestines, the meaty parts of the head, the brains, eyes, tongue. When I lived in South Africa animal and fish heads were always in demand and were considered a treat.
Mice and rats are edible. A friend of mine tells the story of having eaten rats during the Korean War. He says if you are hungry enough, they taste fine. Small rodents should be skinned and gutted, but the heads can be left on. If possible, they should be boiled for at least 10 minutes. Best prepared in a stew.
Dog, cats, porcupines, possums, badgers and other similar games is best prepared in a stew with edible plants. If possible, always gut and skin them. Dog and cat livers are especially nutritious.
All snakes except sea snakes are edible. I have eaten rattlesnake on several occasion and found it to be quite tasty. Lizards are also edible although they can be hard to catch and not worth the effort. You can expend more calories chasing them than they provide.
Many of these food many contain parasites or diseases. Good sanitation and thorough cooking are necessary to preserve your health.
The foods mentioned above sound very revolting to many of us. Just remember that in many parts of the world these foods are considered delicacies. I have a friend who was raised in Viet Nam and one of the things that he misses is rat. So it is all in the mind, you just have to make up your mind to eat what is available.