Quite a few years ago we used to eat crow breasts and found them to be quite tasty. Much to my dismay I was reading an article the other day that the CDC recommended not eating crow meat due to the West Nile Virus. They re not sure if the virus is carried in the flesh, or if cooking the meat properly would destroy the virus. It seems the crow is the primary carrier of the virus. They even went as far as saying we should be using gloves to handle the dead birds depending on the state you live in. We've only had one case of the West Nile Virus in Washington State that I'm aware of, but it puts me off from using some old recipes I have. Eating crow wasn't always a bad thing (pun intended).
The CDC has in the past, said that guns are a major public health hazard. I consider the source, particularly since I dealt with CDC "experts" on several occasions while working in a local health department. Good people when they stick to medicine--losers when they dabble in politics. Having said that, there is an abundance of information on the CDC website about West Nile Virus (WNV).
http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
Yes, the corvid family (crows, jays) are most often carriers, but the infection travels via the bite of an infected mosquito. i.e., WNV is a blood-borne pathogen that normally passes between mosquitos and birds. However, the virus can be transmitted through contact with the blood or other tissues of infected animals--like when a hungry gourmet is breasting out those 70-80 crows and nicks himself or has an open wound in which crow blood finds its way in.
Why corvids? There is no reason posted on the CDC site; the connection between scavengers (crows) eating birds killed by WNV is likely. Hawks and owls are subject to this as well. I suspect some CDC investigators went crazy in days gone by during the height of the WNV controversy, when they found piles of dead crows left by some of you guys out there. You know, a "Mass WNV kill reported--Film at Eleven." sort of thing. Some of my LE friends at that time were thinking WNV was a case of the Russkis or Chicoms doing a bit of biological warfare experimentation. But I didn't say that.
The CDC's solution to WNV is to stay away from mosquitos. So, staying indoors and watching other guys blast crows on YouTube guarantees you will not get bit by a skeeter. Not a great option.
Also, no info on a quick CDC search regarding (crow) cooking temperatures. I suspect the people in Atlanta (CDC's HQ) are not often presented with this problem. Otherwise it might be in their FAQ. But, if it's like any other virus, bacteria, or bug out there that is present in most of our food, wear nitrile gloves when cleaning any critter, washing thoroughly afterwards (meat also), and cooking at a proper temperature (160 degrees and upwards, deep fry, etc.--depending on the critter meat) will kill darn near any bad bug. But you guys already know that.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
You make some good points. I'll still hunt crows, but am put off on eating them until I know more. Of course the same can be said of the wasting disease that is affecting many deer populations almost nation wide now and brucellosis carried by the buffalo. It's a shame more isn't known. Crow meat is actually quite tasty when prepared right. It's a shame to waste meat of any animal when you know it can be eaten.
You make some good points. I'll still hunt crows, but am put off on eating them until I know more. Of course the same can be said of the wasting disease that is affecting many deer populations almost nation wide now and brucellosis carried by the buffalo. It's a shame more isn't known. Crow meat is actually quite tasty when prepared right. It's a shame to waste meat of any animal when you know it can be eaten.
There used to be a "Crow Bar" "bar" near where I lived and I always wanted to to go in a get a Crow Bar Tee Shirt.. This place was really "rough" establishment and ended up closing. The saying was that would check you at the door to see if you had a knife or gun; if you didn't, they would provide you with one..
