There’s a growing interest in salvaging road kill for the dinner table. Maybe it’s the sluggish economy, unemployment, or even an interest in recycling! This year, the Montana legislature passed a bill allowing motorists to pick up roadkill for personal consumption.
Many residents herald the change as a means to stop the waste of game meat. Others are less enthusiastic. Will Joe Public know how to safely prepare the meat? Will meat contaminated by blood shock, shattered bone or intestinal juices create health concerns? That sounds tasty! Will the meat land on a plate in a roadside diner? Will poachers trade their guns for the bumper of their old beater truck?
The legislature left all the details to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which came up with the following rules: The meat must be eaten rather than used as bait (e.g., bear baiting). The entire carcass must be removed, as opposed to selective salvage of the choicest cuts of meat, such as steak or rump roast. Salvagers would be required to report their find online or in person within 24 hours of the collision.
Time will tell if Montana lawmakers made the right decision. What about the danger to passing motorists posed by an old lady trying to stuff a moose in the trunk? What if too much time lapses between impact and refrigeration? What if the salvage results in food poisoning? What if granny chokes on a chard of bone? What about the inevitable law suits? Bon Appetit!