Do People Eat Skunk? Is It Safe?
Do people eat skunk? Yes, definitely. There are a lot of small game animals in the world and more edible species than you would think. Skunk is among them and is an amazingly tasty food if you are able to process the meat correctly. Hunting for skunk — particularly to eat — has some key features that make it different from standard small game hunting practices.
You can eat skunk meat, though many people would not believe it. It’s not easy and you must kill them in a manner that stops them from spraying. Other issues include the possibility of having rabies spread and the difficult de-glanding procedure. If you do a little cleaning and brining, as well as cooking, you’ll enjoy an incredible dinner from an animal that looked useless at first glance.
Who eats Skunk?
There are many instances of skunks being eaten across the globe, not only by the character Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild. According to history, Native Australians, as well as a handful of groups in Mexico as well as South America, have been eating skunk for centuries, as well as a variety of tribes of Africa.
In the eyes of North American civilians, skunk meat was a popular choice for plates during the 1800s due to Native American tribes, whose distinctive roasting methods brought Canadian as well as American hunter-gatherers to test the meat for their own.
The adventurers and hunters of the sport are keeping the tradition alive today, exploring the natural world in different ways, such as eating many bizarre food items.
Yet, it’s not surprising that skunks do not provide a formidable alternative to snails, raccoons as well as guinea-pigs or rattlesnakes if you’ve had the pleasure of trying these.
Is it safe to eat Skunk Meat?
The meat of a skunk is healthy to eat, however, there are always dangers. Before you do anything else, make certain to remove the tiny bag of bacteria that has infected the anus with the utmost diligence.
If done improperly or in a hurry, the pus-filled sac can leak all the bad smell and bacteria and contaminate the meat.
If you’re aware you’ll need to carefully prepare the meat in order to avoid the well-known smell of skunks, you’ll be aware that these animals could carry the rabies virus so even a small cut to your finger in the cooking process could be fatal.
Fortunately, the rabies virus doesn’t live long in the body of the host. It can be eliminated its rogue by cooking it for just a few minutes at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Skunks can be cooked at the recommended temperature in case you are unsure whether it’s rabies-free or not.
Are all Types of Skunks edible?
Yes and no. While you may choose to eat any type of skunk, however, it’s best is to stay away from the stray ones within your vicinity.
The reason is that even though most animals are omnivores the stray ones usually consume smaller animals such as moles and rats, or on food waste that is rotten and could be carriers of viruses, parasites, or deadly illnesses.
However, wild skunks consume diverse diets of grains, plants, and even meat that is more balanced than backyard cousins.
So, the likelihood of infection by viruses is lower due to the digestion process that is controlled.
What does Skunk taste like?
The taste of skunk meat is like rabbits and Raccoons. However, the flavor is very gamey.
The flavor is due to fats; therefore, the taste may differ for every person. It may be slightly bonier than a rabbit, but the texture is remarkably similar. If you close your eyes, however, you might not be able to tell the two different.
Similar to rabbits, skunks are also extremely slim due to its active life out in nature. This is why it tastes better when it’s been cooked to a tender state prior to cooking.
The traditional method of cooking is seasonings, marinating the meat, as well as slow-cooking the meat. It’s never a good idea to cook meat for too long because it can become tough in both taste and texture.
Alternately, you can cut off the fat prior to making your cooking and seasonings when you’re not sure whether you’d like a stronger flavor.
Hunting Skunks
The primary protection is the strong scent they release when threatened that comes from the glands in their mouths. They typically have approximately five sprays. The smell is so unpleasant that all predators are kept away by their scent. Only 5% of their deaths are due to predation.
This means that you’re likely to spot many skunks when you begin to look. The ability to spray depends on their ability to raise their tails – sneaking into a skunk and then tying it down using a weighted blanket might work, provided you cut your silhouette in a proper manner.
If you are close enough, these animals may turn to make use of claws or teeth. This may not be any immediate threat as larger game’s claws, however, the possibility of rabies could prove challenging. Be sure to wear protection and cover-up clothing in case you have to approach the Skunk.
Certain types of traps could also be used to tie their tails, but their legality, handling, and ethics can be an extremely bothersome issue particularly when you capture animals that aren’t suitable for your trap.
A few have suggested that similar results could be achieved by keeping their hind legs off the ground, but this isn’t an experience that is typical of the people who trap skunks. You’ll also be in the middle of a scuffle that would prompt them to spray at you, and so you should be careful about using this technique.
Since this is their primary defense mechanism, skunks don’t want to spray. They’ll spray when they are scared by danger, trapped, or even threatened. The typical small game hunting trick of shooting them with a gun isn’t advisable since they almost always spray when shot in the head.
Instead, you should opt for lung shots. They are believed to reduce the chances of this occurring. Make sure to use a small-caliber rifle to make sure the meat doesn’t become contaminated.
The A.22 caliber will work well for this task. When you are removing the carcass, you must ensure that you do not shake it too much on the return journey.
Explore skunks in the open. The skunks that are in the backyard or in your area have likely been eating leftovers from your garbage. Their tastes will reflect those things in the most negative ways, so be cautious and look for a place a little away from society.
The winter months usually bring increased activity and a more favorable background to hunt them and kill any parasites which may have been residing in their bodies.
Skunks do not go through hibernation in winter. Instead, they go into a state of deep sleep, known as torpor. They awake and forage after certain temperatures, but it is much easier to identify their movements.
Screening and protection from Rabies
Skunks are well-known for their ability to carry rabies, as they are the 3rd most frequently reported animal that transmits the disease, which is just behind bats and Raccoons. Avoid hunting skunks with symptoms of rabies. Common signs include excessive drooling, an increase in aggression, and discharge from the eyes or mouth and appearing as if they are unaware of their surroundings.
The disease itself thankfully isn’t a long-lasting illness outside of its hosts. It’s also impossible to transmit in the event that its victim starts to exhibit symptoms. A few minutes of warmth that exceeds 120°F could end the illness – an easily achievable temperature in the majority of kitchens.
Skunks are also known for being carriers of rabies, as they are the third-most frequently reported animal that transmits the disease. Avoid hunting skunks that appear or appear to be unfocused and don’t approach them. If you have to, cover the skin with as much as feasible – rabies spreads easily via bites and other painful injuries.
The rabies virus isn’t able to remain long after the death of an animal and isn’t able to be transmitted unless the person who is infected has active symptoms. Just a few minutes of heat that exceeds 120°F could stop the disease. Even the slowest roasts could easily surpass the threshold of 120°F. In fact, sunlight can eliminate the rabies virus in less than half an hour.
The most significant risk is the cooking process but not the actual consumption. However, preparing meat with rabies can lead to exposure to rabies, and the process of deglanding requires preciseness and sensitivity of the fingers, adding the risks.
De-glanding Your Game
Skunks are unique from other game species in their field is their powerful smell glands. The rupture or even the agitation can contaminate the meat. It’s crucial to conduct the process of de-glanding in the most precise manner you can.
They are situated in the rectum area, just below their tail. It is important to ensure that your hunt is not spoiled; however, since the procedure above cuts and exposes the intestines to meat.
It’s not a problem with fresh kills if you wash them and cook them in a proper manner in longer intervals there is a chance for bacteria to develop and could pose a risk to your health.
How To Cook Skunks
Clean your skunk’s carcass with warm water and soap following the de-glanding and skinning. It’s crucial to not only eliminate the scent glands, but also the fat around them.
Brining your skunk is an option that is beneficial since it softens and enhances the flavor of your game. The brining process destroys the proteins found in meat, while also helping keep moisture in the meat.
It’s crucial to remember that brining – and, by the extension, salt hinders the growth of bacteria, and it is not able to completely stop it. Cleanse and cook the meat as quickly as you can after slaughter to limit the risk of contamination.
Protecting yourself with gloves can will help you avoid the danger of contracting rabies. While rabies is a fatality in exposure to sunlight, it also can result in your meat becoming rotten and resulting in stronger flavors of game and bacteria development, which makes de-glanding even more challenging.
There have been reports of people getting rabies when playing and, as the most prevalent carrier of the illness the skunks should be viewed with greater caution in this regard.
The Best Portions to Eat
Skunks are considered small game meats and have the best of the best that comparable animals have. The skunk’s liver, heart, and kidneys make fantastic organ meats. They’re an excellent source of nutrition loaded with vitamins. But, they’re also extremely cholesterol-rich.
Skunks are not just carrion-lovers but also omnivores. Avoid stomach meat since it runs the risk of being raw or rancid food on its own, in addition to insects and other non-palatable staples in their food. This is also true for their intestines. Stick to the protein that is lean as much as is possible.
Avoid eating their brains as they could lead to suffering from prion disease. Prions are a form of protein that can cause abnormal folding of proteins within the brain, which leads to various health problems.
They also have the ability to switch between species by eating meat that is contaminated and lack of curation can put animals that hunt wild at more risk than livestock animals.
Neurodegenerative disorders are extremely difficult to identify, and are usually discovered too late, and can cause impairments to motor function, cognitive capacity and memory.
Examples of common causes resulting from the use of brain tissue include variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) which is one variant from Mad Cow Disease and Kuru.
On a less serious note, brains from skunks also consist of cholesterol and fat. They could lead to blockage problems or elevated blood pressure similar to various organ meats.
FAQs
Can You Consume Skunk?
Yes, you can consume skunk meat if it isn’t broken. The bag of bacteria of skunks’ anus which sprays the horrible odor throughout to protect the skunks. If it’s broken, just throw it away, since it spreads bacteria over the meat, rendering the meat useless.
In What Way Are Skunks Beneficial?
Although skunks may be viewed as nuisances, they actually provide benefits to gardeners, farmers, and landowners due to their ability to be a major source of food for a wide range of garden and agricultural pests. Skunks were historically entrapped to make pelts for themselves and this is still the case.
Do skunks eat rats?
They are omnivores which means they consume both vegetables as well as meat. In answer to that question: yes, skunks are known to eat mice, moles and rats in a certain amount. they also eat insects.
What are the things that skunks dislike?
It’s not a good idea that skunks dislike certain smells (as if they are able to discern). Mothballs, ammonia, citrus and the smell of predator urine (dog coyote, coyote, etc.) are three scents that can frighten Skunks. If you are using mothballs or cotton balls that have been soaked with ammonia ensure that you keep them out of reach of children.
What does the skunk taste like?
The Indians consumed skunks and is a trapper. I have tried it by making cleanly-skinned pieces of the carcass into flour, browning them while steaming them on a pot. The meat is light-colored and is well-flavored. It’s more delicious than opossum and raccoon, but a skunk’s bones are larger and are not as well packed with meat as rabbits.
Do you think a skunk will chase you?
Skunks are docile, shy animals. They don’t want to spray, and will only spray when there are alternatives to escape. If a skunk family resides at your home in the Kitchener Waterloo area It is imperative to get them removed due to a variety of reasons, however, there’s no reason to worry that you will be attacked.
Do you think it is a bad idea to let a skunk roam within your backyard?
Skunks don’t pose danger to your house and your grass. In fact, they feed on animals that do. If you manage the skunk population in order to reduce numbers and the animals are healthy, having one or two skunks in your neighborhood can be beneficial to your lawn by reducing property-destroying animals at bay.
How do you convince a skunk to stay away?
A bright or motion sensor flood light can make skunks fearful. Many wildlife animals and skunks included, do not like the scent of citrus fruit. Put lemon or orange peels on the lawn to act as a natural repellent for skunks. The urine of predators (dogs or coyotes, etc.) could be utilized to repel the skunk.
Do skunks ward off rats?
The majority of people do not encounter the opossum or skunk, apart from roadkill. These nocturnal creatures are known to construct their homes as sleeping areas under houses or in crawl areas. However they eat rodents, rats and other rodents therefore, at the very least, there is a skunk for repelling rodents.
Do skunks deter snakes?
Skunks can help manage your local Rattlesnake population.During the summer, spotting the skunks in your backyard or around your house means rattlesnakes will be kept from your property.
What animal would consume Skunks?
Coyotes and foxes, dogs and bobcats, mountain lions badgers, big owls and badgers are all capable of eating skunks but seldom do. Studies show that less than 5 percent of the deaths of skunks are due to predators.
Wrapping up
So, do people eat skunk? Yes, of course. The majority of people, however, aren’t likely to believe that these creatures can be eaten. However, they’ve been game animals for many years. The process of getting to this point might be a little tedious and exact, but a little practice is all you require to make it happen.
So, that’s it. Now you know the answers to what people eat skunks and how you can get your own. Skunks are not generally thought of as food by most people, particularly those who have been caught by their unpleasant smell at least once, but they are hunted and eaten around the world.
If you’re willing to attempt and capture this smelly creature in the wild perhaps you’ll end up capturing your next meal. Although getting there without a lot of precision can be difficult but you can easily do it with a little bit of practice and planning.
