Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Video: Turn Your Locally Sourced Squirrel Into Tonight's Dinner!
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 27, 2012
Modified Jan 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 27, 2012
Modified Jan 27, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
No matter how tough things get, isn't it nice to know there are plenty of squirrels out there for eatin' if things get really desperate? Sure, it's a lot of work hunting and dressing and cooking the little buggers, but they are certainly plentiful in these here parts! (And we read The Hunger Games, so how hard could it be?) Let this self-described urban forager in Seattle show you how it's done:
The woman in the Associated Press video grows her own vegetables and forages weeds from around the neighborhood, as well as traps and eats squirrels as part of the family diet. She explains that having studied the squirrel's eating habits very closely, she was "very comfortable with the quality of the tissue and that they're aren't any contaminants in the tissue." Then, in her best Suzie Homemaker voice, she shows you how to cook it, saying first "you take their little arms off!"
The final product looks delicious, right? The legality of trapping squirrels within the city limits is a bit uncertain; New York State permits hunting them when they're in season, but you can only legally kill them in NYC "if they are causing damage, if they are a nuisance, or if they present a health concern." [pdf] Still, if you need any tips on how to track them, let squirrel-hunting expert Al Pacino give you some pointers:
"What's this, a squir-rel?"
Tagged
eating squirrel
hunting squirrel
squirrel
urban forager
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .