Eating Roadkill Is Illegal in California. But That May Change

[DGUtley]

Eating Roadkill Is Illegal in California. But That May Change. Let’s get the jokes out of the way first.

“Meals under wheels.”
“Bumper crop.”
“Gravel-tenderized meat.”

Chances are state Sen. Bob Archuleta has heard most of them. A Los Angeles County Democrat, he has a bill advancing through the Legislature that would allow Californians to “salvage” recently deceased wildlife from the sides of the state’s roads and highways. The eyebrow-raising (and for the squeamish, stomach-churning) effort has been the butt of “many jokes here in the Capitol and even in my own hometown” of Pico Rivera, he acknowledged. But jokes aside, he insists, “this bill is dealing with very serious issues.” It would allow outdoorsy and culinarily courageous Californians to engage in a very particular form of roadside dining, so long as they apply for a state permit after-the-fact. Proponents say that wildlife and highway regulators could then use the data to identify roadkill hotspots and help reduce human-wildlife collisions.


https://www.kqed.org/science/1941435...e-not-for-long


Roadkill-California-800x524.jpg

[FindersKeepers]

I doubt that proposition will pass as CA is one of the states that's seen chronic wasting disease (CWD) in captive deer populations. CWD is a prion disease, similar to mad cow disease, and while some studies show it probably doesn't transfer between the animals and the folks who eat them, the CDC recommends not eating the brain and spinal cord. It's pretty bad in Colorado now and it's spreading to other states. It's hurting the hunting industry in those places, because no one really wants to eat venison that's tainted.

[Just AnotherPerson]

I have heard of this before. It is actually a really good idea. I am not sure if it was in Alaska, but when someone accidently hits an animal, they take it right away to feed poor families. It is a good idea. Why waste a life? Some people are really poor and this could feed their family for a long time. They dont eat 10 day dead animals or anything they are fresh accidents. I think in Alaska the sherrif or wildlife person is called and they take it right away to the poor.

But as per @FindersKeepers post that is a whole other matter. That is scary.

[Just AnotherPerson]

Here is a link https://www.citylab.com/environment/...e-meat/579352/

Excerpt:

Every year, between 600 and 800 moose are killed in Alaska by cars, leaving up to 250,000 pounds of organic, free-range meat on the road. State troopers who respond to these collisions keep a list of charities and families who have agreed to drive to the scene of an accident at any time, in any weather, to haul away and butcher the body.

[Peter1469]

I have heard of this before. It is actually a really good idea. I am not sure if it was in Alaska, but when someone accidently hits an animal, they take it right away to feed poor families. It is a good idea. Why waste a life? Some people are really poor and this could feed their family for a long time. They dont eat 10 day dead animals or anything they are fresh accidents. I think in Alaska the sherrif or wildlife person is called and they take it right away to the poor.

But as per @FindersKeepers post that is a whole other matter. That is scary.

Notwithstanding the issue FK talks about, it should be legal for the person who hit the animal, or a witness to use the meat. Why waste it? Of course you don't want a dead deer being picked up for food after a certain amount of time after it was killed.

[gamewell45]

Notwithstanding the issue FK talks about, it should be legal for the person who hit the animal, or a witness to use the meat. Why waste it? Of course you don't want a dead deer being picked up for food after a certain amount of time after it was killed.

I know in NY, when deer are hit by a vehicle, once the police are done with their investigation, the deer is up for grabs; the driver of the car who struck the deer has first dibs and if they don't want it, then anyone who wants to haul it off (within 2 hours) is free to do so.

[jigglepete]

I knew a woman in Western Mass. that, for her husbands birthday gave him a pair of "roadkill gloves" I tried googling an image, but was unsuccessful. They were thick mothers that went up to the elbows, and when you make a fist, there is a blade protruding from the knuckles for "scraping" the pavement. That was the last time I ate at their house I can tell you *shudders*

Also, I have a great picture of a rusty can of "Roadkill Stew" that is on display at the local tavern, but I cant figure out how to share it to the site from my phone...quite an unsuccessful day so far

[Sergeant Gleed]

I doubt that proposition will pass as CA is one of the states that's seen chronic wasting disease (CWD) in captive deer populations. CWD is a prion disease, similar to mad cow disease, and while some studies show it probably doesn't transfer between the animals and the folks who eat them, the CDC recommends not eating the brain and spinal cord. It's pretty bad in Colorado now and it's spreading to other states. It's hurting the hunting industry in those places, because no one really wants to eat venison that's tainted.

Since when did the California legislature become imbued with any common sense or any desire to act to promote the health of the people?

And remember this, they may decide to simply move that road kill off the human menu, but instead sell/donate the meat to the makers of animal feed, since fresh protein is always in demand in that industry. THEN those prions will get into the cattle feed and onto your grill.

At present there are federal laws restricting what can be used as source protein for animal feed...and they've been very effective in the US and thus no epidemics of most variants of Mad Cow in the US, except the extremist Rachel variant.

But a California as desperate for money as this state is could view roadkill sales to animal feed processors as a viable option, and California already has no respect for the law.

[donttread]

Eating Roadkill Is Illegal in California. But That May Change. Let’s get the jokes out of the way first.

“Meals under wheels.”
“Bumper crop.”
“Gravel-tenderized meat.”

Chances are state Sen. Bob Archuleta has heard most of them. A Los Angeles County Democrat, he has a bill advancing through the Legislature that would allow Californians to “salvage” recently deceased wildlife from the sides of the state’s roads and highways. The eyebrow-raising (and for the squeamish, stomach-churning) effort has been the butt of “many jokes here in the Capitol and even in my own hometown” of Pico Rivera, he acknowledged. But jokes aside, he insists, “this bill is dealing with very serious issues.” It would allow outdoorsy and culinarily courageous Californians to engage in a very particular form of roadside dining, so long as they apply for a state permit after-the-fact. Proponents say that wildlife and highway regulators could then use the data to identify roadkill hotspots and help reduce human-wildlife collisions.


https://www.kqed.org/science/1941435...e-not-for-long


Attachment 26001

1) If you hit a deer it should either be yours or go to feed people at a shelter.
2) If it's still warm it's probably OK. However, I personally have ever only practiced number one.