Seriously? Only if this freshly killed animal was:

• killed in front of me so I know it's fresh

• is killed in a lush green area with signs everywhere, "organic farm."

• isn't a furry pancake, was killed by a glancing blow

:-))

Roadkill picking up was very common where I grew up in Maine for a bit - if there was ever an animal on the side of the road there was someone inspecting it to see if it was fresh or hauling it off in their car, or squatting over it until help arrived to pack it into a truck. I one time saw this little old man kicking the sides of a moose he found on the side of the road, but determined it was too bloated looking and that it had been lying there dead for too long. We also had a neighbor who hit a bear once, and had a party and invited everyone in our little town over to have some. I live in NYC now so I wouldn't have the opportunity, but if I saw it just get hit, or hit it with my own car, I would probably get it if we were in Maine and near my brother or someone who could properly dress it, and share it for the labor.

before humans had weapons and tools to hunt animals, they scavenged. in that light i think road kill is tres paleo :)

ROCK ON! I just boil'd up our deceased snake (his name was chrapnel and he lived to 10 years old)...grip it and rip it in my opinion.

I'd be nervous about squirrel; in California some of them are carrying the plague. THE plague: bubonic. I'd worry their little fleas would jump to me while I was processing the corpse.

We're not even supposed to feed them here, because it encourages them to get too close to people. Which is too bad, because they are so cuuuute.... :)

(Not joking! Google California, ground squirrel, and plague.)

Just make sure you cook it thoroughly to kill all the worms and parasites.

I've been kind of interested to try this. From what I understand, you have to look for an animal that's been hit and is off to the side of the road, not in the middle where it keeps getting hit. Definitely a plus if you saw it get hit, or it's still warm. In colder weather they'll keep for longer, obviously. Cut out any of the parts of the animal that got hit and are damaged. Gut it ASAP. Wash hands and utensils thoroughly. Cook thoroughly. (is low and slow more thorough than high and fast?) I learned a lot from this incredible woman's blog: (WARNING, WARNING, MAJOR WOO-WOO FACTOR!!!) http://www.graveyarddirt.com/

Never ate any myself, but have brought a lot of roadkill home for the dogs. Generally rabbit.