N.J. Warns: Don't Eat Squirrel Near Dump

Washington Times ^ | 1-25-07 | AP

[JZelle]

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey has warned squirrel hunters near a toxic waste dump about consuming the critters because they could be contaminated with lead.

It is the first time the state has cautioned Ringwood residents - many who are members of the Ramapough Mountain Indian tribe who hunt and fish in the area - about their squirrel intake, said Tom Slater, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Senior Services.

A lead-contaminated squirrel was found in the area two months ago, prompting the agency, along with the state Department of Environmental Protection, to send out letters advising that adults eat squirrel no more than twice a week and even less for children and pregnant women.

Lead, which is harmful in small amounts, can damage the nervous system, red blood cell production and the kidneys.

[Izzy Dunne]

warned squirrel hunters near a toxic waste dump about consuming the critters

... hence the word "toxic"!

[andy58-in-nh]

[steveo]

Well they're full of lead so I guess they just sink!

[Jeff Chandler]

Where's that "May Contain Nuts" warning graphic?

[bamahead]

You had me at "Don't Eat Squirrel."

[JZelle]

The only squirrel I could eat

[Psalm 73]

squirrels - very stringy and very gamey - just had to try one - I'd have to be near starvation to eat another.

[TC Rider]

An old timer once taught me, "You can't catch a squirrel in a rat trap".

At the time the squirrels were getting in my garden shed and ravaging my stocks of bird seed, actually eating through the 5 gallon plastic pails I used for storage.

I ignored the old man and bought the rat traps, which were like giant old fashioned mouse traps. I sat one outside the garden shed at the bottom of a white plastic 5 gallon pail. I scattered some black oil sunflower seeds around and in the pail.

I sat back on the deck to enjoy the show. In less than 5 minutes a squirrel took the bait. He gobbled up the seeds on the ground and hopped up on the rim of the bucket.

He dropped into the bucket, I heard a loud snap as the rat trap went off and the squirrel shot out of the bucket and at least 6 feet into the air.

I guess the old man was right.

[LexBaird]

What if you take 'em home before you eat 'em?

[OldCorps]

Don't Eat Squirrel Near Dump

Go ahead punk! Try to stop me!

[LexBaird]

[pgkdan]

New Jersey has warned squirrel hunters near a toxic waste dump about consuming the critters because they could be contaminated with lead.

And these are the people who call US rednecks...???

[WakeUpAndVote]

Soak squirrel in salted water overnight in refrigerator.
How do you get 'em to stay under?

It's Jersey, concrete goulashes.

[Famishus]

Gotta watch out for the squirrels near toxic dumps.

[Old Professer]

Every squirrel I ever ate was contamined with lead, about two ounces of #7 16Ga.

[Paved Paradise]

My husband's grandpa would go out and hunt squirrel, among other things, and make stew. My husband said he probably ate a lot of it as a kid before he knew just what grandpa was throwing in the stew....

[ozzymandus]

Tony Soprano sez: "Don't eat da skwoils!"

[michigander]

[heartwood]

"Soak squirrel in salted water overnight in refrigerator.
How do you get 'em to stay under?

It's Jersey, concrete goulashes."

Nah, that's what you feed them in Hungary.

[OldCorps]

Isn't the guy on the right the one who was taken POW by Al Quaida? He sure gets around!