Is it ethical to eat roadkill?

Question

found a freshkilled hare and a pheasant this morning, will it be ok to make a game pie?

Answer 1

I've eaten deer killed by semi.

...knew the semi driver.

The only problem, speaking as a biologist, is that you didn't see how the animal was acting before it got hit.

That's the problem with roadkill.

Answer 2

It is ethical, but probably not sanitary.

Answer 3

sure why not- hope you have someone to drive you to the doctor.

Answer 4

How could it be unethical?  If anything its a very conservationist attitude to take (not letting something good goto waste) when you eat fresh roadkill, fresh IS the keyword though.  I generally won't eat roadkill that I personally don't see hit or hit myself.  Things get a bit iffy if you don't know when it died (in the winter I would be willing to eat roadkill that was there on the way home that wasn't there on the way to work or something similar, but not in the summer.)

Answer 5

It depends.  I think a possum would be okay, but your neighbor's cat would not.

Answer 6

It's wrong to eat meat in general, so yes

Answer 7

If you're hungry enough, you'll eat just about anything.  I know I would.

Answer 8

It would be more unethical *not* to eat it. It's food, if it's not really damaged and is fresh, it would be a waste to leave it. There's millions of people out there praying for food, so to anyone who thinks that eating a fresh, dead animal is disgusting, grow up.  

Answer 9

I've had roadkill.  My neighbor was driving in front of my dad when he hit a deer.  We took it home.  The best part was that a friend of mine was over, he got halfway through the meal before we told him.  You should have seen his face.

Answer 10

Eww.

Answer 11

Depends on what you hit.  

Answer 12

At least it was organic and free range which is probably a d**n sight better than what you'll get at Tescos. That ticks an ethical box. I wouldn't tell the dinner party where you got it from though, at least not until they finished it.

Hare can be very tough and sinewy unless it's rather young due to muscle development, in their hind legs especially. Don't hang the pheasant for more than 24 hours, do hang it somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, and pluck it as soon as possible, preferably if it's still warm.  

Answer 13

It's not unethical, but it is a bit disgusting.  I guess if it's fresh it's no different than any other pre-killed meat we eat, so Bon Apetit!  

Answer 14

Yup, if you like that sort of thing.

Answer 15

yea, you save allot of money on tenderizer by eating meat that's been ran over!

*edit* seriously though, the state of Michigan feeds roadkill to their inmates all the time.  Cook it thoroughly and you'll be just fine.

Answer 16

Not sure I like the kind of games you play, Oban...

Edit - you mean game pie...  ahh, yuk - how do you know it's fresh?  Won't the bones be crushed all through it?  I'd leave it if I were you.

Answer 17

Of course it's OK to eat it, just make sure it's cooked properly, but just think of all the wild animals, foxes, birds etc., that would love it to. You could maybe throw it onto the roadside for them.

Answer 18

I know plenty of people who hit deer and eat them . So go for it.

Answer 19

Yes.  Lots of people in rural areas look for road kill.

Answer 20

yes its fine. make sure you leave it  to mature. 3 days for the hare.a bit  longer for the pheasant 5-7days. you can clean out the intestin's straight away.

Answer 21

Yes, it may improve the flavour to let them 'hang' for a few days.

(apparently) legally the killer isn't supposed to collect the roadkill, but any follower can  

Answer 22

They have laws in some canadian cities where you have to leave the roadkill for the car behind you...  I love that law, I'd just trail my brother through a national park.

Answer 23

Mise as well now! >:(

Answer 24

As long as it's thoroughly cooked, you shouldn't be concerned.

That's how I like my babby.

Answer 25

Opossum is better in game pie. They are easy to run over too.

Answer 26

Yes, but so is having 23 dogs under your front porch and 12 cars on the lawn.

Answer 27

No.

Answer 28

Saw a programme on TV recently which featured someone who ate virtually nothing but roadkill,but he would eat anything that had been killed.

As well as the usual rabbits,birds etc,he claimed to have eaten rats,three dogs and several cats,and also that he had a freezer well stocked with badger.

Don't know if it had anything to do with his diet,but he said his wife was a vegetarian.

Answer 29

Nah! Leave it for the seagulls and crows to fight over.

Answer 30

Absolutely

Answer 31

  Enjoy.