When you are in any survival situation, be it long run or short term, food is one in all your top priorities.
While it’s true that you can go several weeks without food before you starve to death, the decline in your physical and mental energy levels long before that may severely hamper your survival efforts.
As such, it is sensible to add naturally sourced foods to your supplies and eating regimen every time possible, including animals that you would not normally consider food, but which might be nevertheless good and protected to eat. How about Bobcats? Can you eat beans?
Yes, bobcat meat is protected to eat so long as it is correctly cleaned and thoroughly cooked. Like most meat, it’s caloric and high in protein and is a great option if you are able to punish the bobcat.
Most people living in North America have never dreamed of eating a cat, however the practice is common in other parts of the world.
The trick on this case is to find a much less successful hunt for these elusive cats.
This article will tell you the whole lot you need to learn about eating bobcat as a part of your survival strategy.
Where do bobcats live?
Bobcats are probably the most widespread and abundant wild cat found throughout North and Central America, excluding feral domestic cats.
In the United States, they may be present in all states except Hawaii, in addition to in Canada and Mexico.
Highly adaptable, Bobcats prefer to live in forested areas, but they will also be present in swamps, semi-arid areas, and mountains, where they feed on small mammals, reptiles, fish, insects, and birds.
The bobcat also, remarkably, preys on much larger prey resembling deer, pronghorn, and even wild pigs, burying the carcass and returning to it several times to feed.
Bobcats are large gluttons for his or her size, and any area where their prey is generally abundant is more likely to have bobcats nearby!
But these cats are solitary animals and take a look at to avoid people every time possible; sightings in areas inhabited by humans are rare.
However, they’ll readily defend themselves in the event that they feel threatened or cornered, and have been known to fiercely defend a larger kill.
Nutrition facts about bobcat meat
Bobcat meat is surprisingly nutritious, with a well-rounded profile that accommodates significant amounts of protein, zinc, iron and selenium.
Bobcat meat can also be a good source of B vitamins resembling niacin and thiamine, with smaller amounts of vitamin B6.
Although typically lean meat, bobcats contain some fat and supply a good combination of fast and long-lasting energy.
Do Bobcats Taste Good?
Generaly. While cat is near the tip of the list when it comes to meat decisions for the typical American, it tastes pretty good compared to a lean pork chop.
The most surprising, so long as it is correctly prepared Lynx meat is generally devoid of the “venison” characteristic of many predators.
The bobcat has long been considered a “junk” meat, fit only to be eaten in extreme conditions or to be fed to dogs, but this experience is usually underestimated.
This is probably going due to the proven fact that most bobcat meat eaten in America has either been botched during cleansing and preparation or is otherwise of poor quality. However, when properly cleaned and cooked, lynx meat may be quite tasty.
Can you eat raw bobcat meat?
Not! Raw bobcat, like all raw meats, can harbor harmful bacteria and other nasty microorganisms that may cause severe illness.
Of particular concern is toxoplasmosis, which is brought on by a protozoan that may infect each cats and humans.
This microorganism doesn’t often make cats sick, but it might probably be deadly to individuals with weakened immune systems, including pregnant women and young children.
Another common bacteria present in raw meat is Salmonella, which may cause food poisoning. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Finally, especially common in bobcats is trichinosis, a parasitic roundworm that may cause trichinosis.
Left untreated, it might probably lead to muscle pain, inflammation of the brain and heart, and even death!
It sounds scary, but keep in mind that you may not even find a way to afford easy food poisoning when you are in a survival situation.
To avoid such an unlucky turn of events, you must cook lynx meat well-done through, especially until it reaches a regular internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is the one way to be certain that that every one harmful germs and other bad things are dead before eating.
Can you eat bobcat skin?
Yes, though you probably shouldn’t waste your time. The skin of a bobcat isn’t edible, and even when you wanted to, you’d have to maintain removing the fur.
It’s best to stick to putting effort into preparing the meat, which is the true reward.
Are Bobcat bones protected to eat?
Yes and no. You cannot directly eat bobcat bones, even after cooking. They are far too hard and can only serve to break teeth.
In the worst case, even when you manage to eat them, they may cause suffocation, intestinal blockage, and even splitting and injury internally. Yes!
However, bones can provide you with excellent nutrition through their marrow if you can get it out.
One way is to simply put the bones in a pot of water and boil them for at the least an hour.
This will draw all of the nutrients from the bones into the water, creating a delicious and healthy broth stuffed with protein, minerals and other great things. This may be used as such or used as the premise for a fortified soup or stew.
Another way that requires a bit more effort up front but rewards you with more concentrated nutrition is to crack open the bones (use a stone, hammer or saw) after which extract the marrow whole to be cooked and eaten as is or added to other food.
Of course, don’t try to eat the bones whole, but definitely don’t throw them away if you can use the marrow.
Are Bobcat organs protected to eat?
Yes, often. Organs are one other touchy topic for some people, even hunters. If you are sensitive and uneducated about organs, you should probably avoid trying to eat them in a survival situation.
That said, most bobcat organs are perfectly protected and healthy to eat when properly cleaned and ready.
By far the perfect and safest organ is the center, which consists almost entirely of muscles. Other good decisions include liver and kidney although you have to be more careful with each…
The liver, while highly nutritious, can contain high levels of poisons if the animal has not been healthy, while the kidneys tend to taste quite disgusting unless soaked in water or milk before being expertly cooked.
The stomach and intestines are controversial: they’re protected to eat, but each should be completely cleansed of all waste before preparation and cooking.
This is not all the time possible or cost-effective in a survival situation, so if you’re unsure you can properly clean them, it’s probably best to pass them on.
