Wild Rabbit

[the.fee.fairy]

Right, i've been googling this for the past 30 mins.

Can you eat wild rabbit that looks like it might have mixy?

See...Finlay caught one and killed it today, and it looks like its got black eyes. It still ran, and it could see and probaby hear (or vice versa).

The only things i've found are all conflicting - some say that you can't eat it, and others say that it is not practice to eat it, but it won't harm a human to do so.

Anyone know the definitive answer?

[Shirley]

really don't know... but I'm not sure that I would.... happy to eat rabbit ordinarily though.

I'm sure someone with the know how will know.

[Stonehead]

I don't eat rabbits with myxomatosis - or that are in anything less than excellent condition. I do shoot them, then either bury or burn them if I have a hot fire going.

Unfortunately, myxomatosis is quite rife this year so we haven't been able to eat rabbits for months. Last year, rabbit was a valuable addition to our diet.

[the.fee.fairy]

Is it because it would damage you? Or just a personal choice?

I'm not keen on eating it (i suffer the cute fluffy bunny problem) but my sister and dad are, and i want to know whether they're not eaten because they'll damage humans, or whether its just a 'condition' thing.

Ta

[the.fee.fairy]

so..

My dad went to the pub, and there are a few people there who shoot and eat their own rabbits.

The general concensus was that it didn't have mixy because it ran, and that if the liver was free of white spots, and the internal organs looked fine, then it's safe.

My sister cleaned and gutted it last ngiht, and the liver was a healthy red colour, no white spots. Everything else looked in great condition too, so they're going to give it a go.

[Stonehead]

Myxomatosis doesn't affect humans - three Australian scientists (Fenner, Burnett and Ross IIRC) injected themselves with it back in the 1960s to prove it does no harm!

But do you really want to eat an animal with pus-filled lumps, with conjunctivitus, with secondary bacterial infections, with pneumonia, etc?

You wouldn't eat farmed livestock in that condition, would you?

Oh, and it's certainly illegal to give it or sell it to someone else for their consumption. That's made quite clear in studying for the Level 2 Certificate in Game Meat Hygiene.

[the.fee.fairy]

It didn't have any of those things actually. It had funny looking eyes.

[Martin]

Hugh Fearlessy-Whittingtwit probably has a recipe already - buboes with wild mushrooms - yummy!

[fenwoman]

Hugh Fearlessy-Whittingtwit probably has a recipe already - buboes with wild mushrooms - yummy!

ITYM 'Huge Furry-Whatsisname'.