I recently read a news article on the California bill supporting the legalization of roadkill harvesting. Curiosity took over and I wanted to understand "how and why" this bill was a progressive step forward. This article shares what I discovered about the perks and pitfalls of roadkill cuisine. Nurses General Nursing Article
I have never seriously considered “roadkill” as a legitimate food source. Typically, I associated roadkill with the punchline of a very corny joke. Recently, I read an article highlighting California bill that would legalize the collection of carrion (aka roadkill). My interest was definitely peaked after learning 27 U.S. states have already legalized the collection of roadkill for human consumption. I image there are individuals reading this article that are true roadkill aficionados. However, I had to research, read up and educate myself on carrion cuisine. If you are interested in what I learned, keep reading.
The first question I needed to answer was “Why”. Some readers may know the answer to this question, but I was surprised to find real benefits for this controversial practice.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), between 1 and 2 million large animals are struck by vehicles in the U.S. yearly. These accidents kill approximately 200 people annually and cause nearly 8.4 billion dollars in damages. Many states are allowing the collection of carcasses to reduce the number vehicle-animal accidents and injuries.
In California alone, an estimated 20,000 deer, elk and wild pig are killed each year on roads. The proposed bill states this amount “translates into hundreds of thousands of pounds of healthy meat that could be utilized to feed those in need.” Roadkill meat is a valuable free-range source of organic protein.
In Alaska, all roadkill belongs to the state. State troopers will collect the hit animal, take it to volunteers for processing and distribute the meat to local charities. Residents in many states can actually get on a waiting list to be called by the game warden when roadkill meat is available.
Salvaging laws vary by state and often includes reporting requirements to assist in the collection of important data. The information is used to determine migration patterns and feeding areas. Identifying dangerous stretches of road protects animals, people and vehicles. Idaho has used data collected to build fences, post warning signs, build wildlife overpasses and under-tunnels to protect elk, deer and other animals.
Roadkill is also used to collect data and study Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, moose and elk. This contagious neurological disease causes brain degeneration, weight loss, abnormal behavior and eventually death in infected animals. Animals with CWD have a higher risk of being involved in road accidents that cause animal and human injury or death.
Roadkill on the menu is gaining acceptance and animal rights groups generally approve. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ website states, “If people must eat animal carcasses, roadkill is a superior option to the neatly shrink-wrapped plastic packages of meat in the supermarket “. Hunters have a long history of supporting the salvage of roadkill but maintain a “use the whole animal” ethical viewpoint. In addition to providing organic protein, salvaged roadkill provides a way to humanely collect fur and pelt.
It is important to know your state’s laws regarding the collection of roadkill. Requirements widely vary, with some states requiring returning the head and antlers to game wardens. Many states also require permits or registration in order to collect roadkill.
There is no federal regulation for the private consumption of roadkill. However, before harvesting, there are “red flags” that indicate the meat is past the point of a safe meal. These include:
When harvesting roadkill, it is impossible to determine if the animal is illness and disease free. However, the following are indicators of a healthy and viable source of meat
The health risks to roadkill are similar to foodborne illness associated with hunting and eating wild game. These include toxoplasmosis, CWD, gondil and other species-specific diseases. It is estimated people consume between 7,000 and 15,000 deer yearly infected with CWD. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are no known cases of transmission to humans. However, research continues to determine whether or not CWD poses a health risk. E. Coli has been found in the remains of elk, deer and moose. Bacterial contamination is also a risk due to gut, intestine or bladder rupture.
What are your thoughts on the “waste-not, want-not” philosophy of roadkill? Does knowing one large animal could yield 60-70 pounds of edible meat sway your opinion? Or, does your concern for the health and safety of your community conjure up the image of a big red “X” signaling a hard stop?
You Can Harvest Roadkill for Food if You Live in One of These 27 States
Wild and Free, But is Roadkill Safe to Eat
Forget burgers, Roadkill could soon be on the menu in California (article)