A proposed California state law could make it legal for residents to eat road kill. Senate Bill 395, if approved, will allow people who accidentally hit and kill wild animals on California roads to take the edible parts.
And, chances are it will happen because more than 20 other states have already made eating roadkill legal, including Florida. Upon further research for this story I found out that Florida is one of, if not the most, lenient states when it comes to taking and eating roadkill.
Basically, in the sunshine state if you see it, and it’s not endangered, you can take it.
Don’t get me wrong, while I have never had a roadside delicacy myself, I kind of understand it in places like Montana where where large animals like antelope, deer, elk and moose are the at the forefront of the issue. Also, it goes without saying that there is some built in refrigeration in places like Montana, not so much here in Florida.
In some states, such as Texas, it’s illegal to take any roadkill at all while many other states have varying degrees of regulations and prohibitions including permits, or even turning in the head. In New Jersey, you can take the roadkill only after getting a permit from a state trooper. In Arizona, its used to feed Mexican wolves and in Alaska needy families and charities are offered first dibs on the free meat.
Two states seem to be the most serious about this draw-a-line-in-the-sand meal: Illinois, where you can take roadkill deer as long as you aren’t delinquent on your child support payments and West Virginia, where there is a 12-hour rule and a state sponsored annual roadkill cooking contest.
So remember this: The next time somebody starts smack talking our wonderful state, you can always remind them, we’ve got all-you-can-eat roadkill.
