Posted on 08/26/2023 3:24:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The TV farmer and YouTube star say he has been 'deluged' with supply offers for his squirrel burgers - but others have called the plan 'horrendous'
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A farmer has defended himself after suffering a fierce backlash over his plan to serve squirrel burgers.
Farmer and influencer Gareth Wyn Jones, who has a million followers on social media including 750,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, has been on the end of abuse online since he went public with an appeal for supplies of freshly killed grey squirrel to make the patties.
Gareth, who has previously appeared on BBC TV series the Family Farm, will be running the pop-up restaurant Cwtch Kitchen at the Welsh Game Fair on September 9 and 10. He plans to put the burgers on the menu at the event and is also suggesting serving them in a calzone.
Gareth, who farms in the foothills of the Carneddau Range above Llanfairfechan, in Conwy, said: “I’ve eaten it that way in Majorca cooked by Chris ‘Flamebaster’ Roberts for S4C and it would be perfect washed down with a glass of red Rondo from the Gwinllan Conwy vineyard. I’ve been deluged with offers of grey squirrel but I’ve had a fair bit of abuse from uneducated people with full bellies too. They’re nuts.”
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That included loopy44 who posted: “I think that's a horrendous idea for burgers - next you will be suggesting seagulls. You are only doing it for notoriety. I definitely prefer to see my squirrels happy in trees."
Hawkeye responded: “You can stick them where squirrels stuff their nuts! Why not rat burgers, same thing but no bushy tail!!!” while imageezer blasted: “The man is sick in the head.”
But Gareth has his supporters too, North Wales Live reports, and indigodebz said: “Makes total sense to me, we import and transport far too much food. Eat local, eat seasonal. I’m up for trying a squirrel burger if they’re genuinely having to be culled and would go to waste otherwise.”
Jonesey added: “I killed, gutted, cooked and ate a couple of grey squirrels many, many years ago … part of a survival course thing. As I remember they didn’t taste particularly good or particularly bad. As the bloke says, a bit like chicken.”
Gareth’s response was: “We should be supporting our native red squirrels. It’s all about getting that message out there. Every single grey that’s culled is protecting our native red population so let’s do it. Grey squirrels are an invasive species so the more we shoot the better and if we can add value by turning them into tasty food that’s even better. Even in the USA they’re a pest. They have Douglas red squirrels in Washington state and they’re being affected by the greys so people are encouraged to shoot them.”
Years ago, the church I attended sponsored some refugees from Vietnam. One Sunday, the refugees cooked us a dinner that included some kind of meat I wasn’t able to identify. I have never had anything like it before or since. It was in gravy and had tiny bones. Maybe squirrel? It was pretty good except for the mystery.
Remember, the lowly squirrel if you ever find yourself good and hungry. Dust it with flour and spices, fry it, and when done make milk gravy over it. Serve with new potatoes from your garden along with creamed fresh peas. A meal fit for a king.
Squirrel meat has more variance based on what the animal has been eating. If you're hunting a wooded area with oaks and pecan trees, the meat will be tasty. If they've been gnawing on green pine cones, your stew will taste vaguely of turpentine.
Oh no! Rabbits have a thin skin. It is easy to skin a rabbit!
Plus, there is a lot more meat left on a rabbit!
I completely understand that concept. Thank you!
Just think Chicken Wings... You have to clean a lot of Chickens to get a plate full of wings. lol
Oh, thanks. I did not know it.
Apparently, I have been snacking on those oak and walnut fed squirls only! Now I know why they were tasting good!
Gainesville... I drive through Palatka every time I take the kids out to the beach
One squirrel is hardly enough for one person.
“Remember, the lowly squirrel if you ever find yourself good and hungry. Dust it with flour and spices, fry it, and when done make milk gravy over it. Serve with new potatoes from your garden along with creamed fresh peas. A meal fit for a king.”
Have had squirrel and dumplings not bad, but prefer shrimp and other things. Had the dad of a friend who would take out the squirrel heads from the dumpling pot and then crack the heads open with his very yellow Case knife then scoop out the brains with a spoon and eat that,
Fox squirrel and grey squirrel are pretty good. In SE Michigan the black phase of the grey squirrel was the most common while I was growing up. In northern Michigan, black squirrels are as big as cats, I’m not exaggerating.
Fox squirrels are a little more common than grey in temperate woodlands, correct me if I’m wrong. They’re usually bigger than grey squirrels (except the black phase up north).
My father was an avid squirrel hunter, and squirrel was a staple in our home. Dad was in the Navy.
Before I was born, he was stationed in San Diego. My mother had a group of snooty women over for a meal. Mom was telling them how you use a special little spoon to crack open their skulls (she was yanking their chains). They were appalled and they said they couldn’t imagine someone eating a squirrel. She replied, “You all seemed to enjoy it.” They were eating a pot of squirrel stew.
My dad grew up during the depression and they ate squirrel. Baked, stew etc - it’s always been part of country folks diet.
Fox squirrels are a little more common than grey in temperate woodlands, correct me if I'm wrong. They're usually bigger than grey squirrels (except the black phase up north).
Up in Ann Arbor Our Son-in-law started feeding the squirrels in their yard. Now even my Granddaughter can hand feed them. Our Daughter sent my wife videos of the little varmints timidly coming into the kitchen to get walnuts and scooting back out. They even tap on the windows when they want to be fed.
GAACK! Tree rats! If I’m starving, and there’s nothing else to eat then maybe I’ll go for the squirrels.
fried they are inedible- too tough and stringy- pressure cooked they were ok- not crazy abotu the taste though- would be good in a stew though im sure-
Love squirrel. My mother use to fry them for breakfast and make gravy from the drippings. Add biscuits and you won’t eat a better breakfast.
It will take a lot of squirrels to make a decent hamburger unless it is White Castle Burger Size. Just sayin...
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