National Squirrel Appreciation Day 2026
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Yes, I'm sure that one Christy Hargrove who created the observance back in 2001 never dreamed the crux of the day would be the slaughter and dressing of these rodents for the dinner table.
Don't get me wrong, rodents remain one of those things I won't eat, but my late daddy consumed them with great relish on a regular basis back on the farm in Aiken County.
He liked a bit of help while dressing them and sometimes I was commandeered for those operations.
So much for encouraging positive attitudes, teaching about their importance beyond their nutritional value, and providing winter relief to them when food is scarce.
Though I never knew if they were "falling off the bones tender" or "still with a little fight in them" I remember mama cooking them up in the frying pan. She would fry them then make a rich brown gravy from the drippings and I swear they looked like a bunch of swedish meatballs with arms and legs ...
So happy National Squirrel Appreciation Day to you and go out and devour a few rodents should you be so inclined.
See Also:
Things I won't Eat