That was my question, too. In my travels around the South I've observed the southern man and woman to batter and fry just about anything. The answer may be in the kitchen.
I spent some time near Valdosta, GA a while back.
Had a neighbor who picked up a dead snake along the side of the road, cooked it and ate it.
He allowed later as how it might have been on the side of the road just a tad too long.