Noticed this thread in the mammal forum. Figured it'd be funny to start one here. No lists, just one event per post.

I'll start with Sideblotch/western fence/tiger whiptail lizards. Backpacking trip with roomie. We didn't bring any of those freeze dried dinners or beef jerky along, so were craving some meat at one point. We managed to catch a few trout but I was still somewhat hungry. So I made a noose, left camp for 30 minutes, and came back with halfa dozen of em. They were easy to prepare and tasted good in stew with ramen flavor-but few things don't.

Being Cajun, I almost always end up eating gator every time I go to Louisiana. Not really much of a story there, sha.

I've eaten Bullfrog. Well, their legs anyway. Freshly caught near the Sacramento River not too far from Davis.

We had a bad fishing day, so instead of trying to catch fish, the guy we were with suggested dangling fish hooks in front of bullfrogs (he had done it before). They were OK but nothing I would go out of my way to eat.

Great thread let's see. Alligator as often as i can find it. i love do a bit of frog gigging from time to time, grilled bullfrog in a ginger sauce is just plain epic. As far as the less traditional items, i tried black ratsnake and garter....garter was terrible. A few items on the herp wishlist to try Burmese python and iguana.

I have tried BBcued Burmese Python and Burmese x Sebae Hybrid.... The first burmese cooked wasn't done proper so the meat was like chewing gum (maybe even worse). However the burmese x sebae hybrid was cooked by a friend that is a chef and boy was it juicy and tender...

Living in my part of the country and coming from a very outdoorsy, hunting and fishing family, Bullfrog legs were often on the table. I still enjoy frog gigging from time to time and still love frog legs. Snapping Turtle was also on the menu but it has been years since I have had it. I have had alligator as well a time or two.

gator, turtle (several kinds) and hundreds of frog legs (mostly bullfrog). Love turtle sauce picante, when I get the chance.

When in Louisiana, my partner had Alligator Cheesecake. If I were to ever organize a novelty band, it would be called "Alligator Cheesecake."

JimM

I had frog legs in a New York Chinese buffet in Orlando, Florida, it was deep fried and actually pretty good.

Josh

Timber rattlesnake.
Alligator.
Bullfrog legs.

--Berkeley

I caught an albino zonata, but my buddies and I had the munchies... so....
Ok, not really.
The only herps I remember eating were C. scutulatus. I did eat a bite of one raw once on a dare. Disgusting. Defintely not something I'd do again.

American Toad, Alligator, Bullfrog, Greenfrog.

American toad!!!???
I've had bull frog, snapping turtle and gator. All are pretty tasty!

Bufotoxin from a metamorph had no effect on my 240lb frame muahhaha

When I was 16 I was invited over by the Hells Angels in Santa Cruz ca. for some kinda Crotalus Concoction. They new I kept snakes. It was taisty. Afterwords I asked if they bought it in can. They laughed and said they had accidently squashed it under a Harley!

Nothing too exciting, just frog legs (I'm assuming bullfrog) and gator tail. Both of which are usually delicious, but the last time I had gator (in a restaurant in Everglades City), it was too dry and not very good.

It seems to me that every time I've had gator to eat, it was so battered and the batter was so heavily seasoned that I couldn't really tell what the meat tasted like. I'd sure like to try some that was nicely prepared sometime. Anyway, I've eaten plenty of gator, and also plenty of turtle (at least a couple of kinds, including common snapper and whatever they usually put in commercially available soups) and frog (legs that maybe all came from bullfrogs or maybe came from a few different kinds of frogs). I've also had rattlesnake a few times. On one particularly adventurous occasion when I was living for an extended period at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, AZ, a number of us went out and scavenged whatever fresh, good-condition roadkilled herps we could find and the station's cook made us all something of a smorgasbord from them. I know there was a diversity of species served and I tried everything (some were very good, only one - a lizard, but I can't remember the species - was awful), but it was so long ago that I really don't remember what the species were. Except the western diamondback; I remember that species because I was impressed with how big the pieces of meat were, and wished I'd gotten to see the snake alive. Darned rotten memory! I try to take notes on such things, nowadays.

Gerry

"It seems to me that every time I've had gator to eat, it was so battered and the batter was so heavily seasoned that I couldn't really tell what the meat tasted like. I'd sure like to try some that was nicely prepared sometime."

Gerry, if you ever find them, get gator ribs.....very good and you get a taste of the meat without the batter or blackening seasoning.
The one's I had were slathered in a honey mustard, but it was so light that you could actually get a feel for how the meat was.

I too have eaten gator as much as I can, as well as softshell turtle and frog legs. I'll take gator over the latter two anyday.....

Python and some sort of colubrid while in Burma. Cooked in a stew.
Iguana in Mexico.
Gator from the local market cooked by my dad.
Frog, turtle, the usual.

Alligator, crocodile, rattlesnake (atrox).

For those of you who eat roadkill--it's technically illegal in some states to do so. I think it's from a "consumer protection" standpoint and intended more for larger animals like deer.

Green Sea Turtle from Mexico's Sea of Cotez. Of course I did not nor would I condone killing them, but since someone else did and invited me to dinner, I tried it, decades ago. It reminded me of veal, light colored and mild taste, good food and I can see why the locals enjoyed it as a break from back then, fish at every meal. In the past, the locals took tremedous numbers of turtles to eat...I still see turtles at sea, but mostly small ones.

Also a rattlesnake (C. oreganus) I accidentally hit, thinking it was a cow pie. Not much meat, sort of stringy, like overcooked fish.

Not really reasonable/rational, since I am not a vegetarian, but I feel too guilty eating a reptile to enjoy eating them...

Well, I should say that I haven't made a habit of it, Chris.

The story I related took place many years ago and so far as I'm aware none of us gave a thought to the legality of the situation (I know that I at least had the appropriate hunting license), but I think harvesting roadkill must be legal in AZ, anyway. Wasn't that where a county sheriff (I don't know whether it was nutcase Joe Arpaio) had his prisoners fed roadkill for a while to trim the budget some years back?

Gerry

Oh how I wish there were dinosaurs . One of my first wishes ever - and still the dream lives on.

I could eat anything out of a necessity to survive . But this is the most ridiculous, needless, namby pamby expression of - what?

I weigh about a hundred and 10 pounds and Im more than twice your age but if I would have seen this you would have had a fist fight on your hands. Have you ever had one of those??

It's really no different than a herpetoculturalist going out and catching Uta or Sceloporus to feed to captive snakes, which plenty of people on here do (or have done). As long as one remains within the legal bag limit (which for U. stansburiana and S. occidentalis is 25 per species in California), it's not really a big deal. Not something I would do personally, but it'd be pretty ridiculous to resort to violence over the legal take of abundant reptiles.

Really your serious you would be willing to fight another human being over this and all the consequences that come with that decision? Really? I hope you are just trolling and don't mean this literally. How the heck is that any different from gigging a couple frogs for dinner? Not like were talking about an endangered species here.

This, coming from the person whose stated childhood dream was that she wished dinosaurs were still around so she could eat one?

I once ate a 110 lb hippie that tried picking a fistfight with me over a lizard I was about to eat. The lizard tasted better.....

Im not a hippie , ladies.

Yes , the thought of gigantic carnivores eating lame asses , I find refreshing and comforting

The hips of the average american male has expanded by 8% , since the advent of the internet.

When water freezes...it expands by 9%.

To me this is no different than legally harvesting a deer, or those trout.

I don't see anything morally wrong with eating a whiptail lizard, but I don't really see much of a point in it. Not much meat on one of those things

I guess I have a different idea of courteous behavior in nature - so useless it just seemed to me, when for other animals a lizard means such a decent meal. Destruction for no true purpose.

I mean no harm. misanthropic sometimes.

Here's what I figured during the decision. Being hungry out in the boonies helps a bit.

Highly abundant species, short generation time, low-no pressure from humans for the most part. You'd be surprised how much meat you can get off of a big one-the bones are soft enough to not worry about as well. And again, its easy enough to get quite a few of them.

If you want to talk ethics-its probably more environmentally friendly to eat a few lizards than to bring along, say, a plastic bag of some prepared food thats been shipped hundreds of miles, processed, etc. etc. etc.

I suppose it'd be even more eco-friendly to eat a few bullfrogs if you can find em...and they have no bag limit in CAli.

While I'll admit I might find it hard to see certain reptiles being eaten(I know in Aus. the aboriginals frequently take blue tongues and monitor lizards-which tugs at my heart strings a bit), but somehow fishermen can revere a fish both as a beautiful animal in life, and a tasty meal on the table.

I see things much simpler. I dont subscribe to any School of Ethics.

I just cant see a Birder, in an afternoon of enjoying the subjects of their interest and regard , having a sandwich and then deciding : Hey I think I could still eat something - I think I'll make a slingshot and kill some teeny sparrows.

I guess maybe they dont have such massive protein needs or something.

As for ethics under the right impetus I could eat human meat, easy

Thats actually how ornithology begain in America...the shotgun was as useful as the binocs back then. Not saying it was a good thing-but that is how it was. And many of those taxidermists ate the birds the shot and mammals they trapped-even little ones like mice.

Thats evading the point IMO .

How come no pics? You know - of you in the Wilds , eating lizards ?

In order of deliciousness

Bitis arientans
Varanus exanthematicus
(Various frogs)
Crocodylus niloticus
Varanus niloticus
Varanus salvator spp.
Python regius
Python sebae
Pelusios spp.
Naja katiensis

cart food
not good

Curiousity is one of the most valid reasons for doing anything.

If one is in another country at a street market or finds a fresh roadkill that would actually make a substantial meal - trying it is another experience.

But being 'Hardcore' as a Herper or Herpetoculturist doesnt mean being cold or blank to other realities besides Numbers. Perhaps it only means being less observant.

It would be a thing to strive for imo if being a herper never meant being Bad News for a herp.

someday, I'm gonna go roadcruising at night and find all of the fresh DOR's I can and cook em up...except for the puny little lizards I mean think about it, you'd be cleaning up the roads, possibly saving other animals that get hit trying to eat the DOR, and you're providing yourself with a bit of extra protein. believe me, I would never kill any living thing, unless of course it's to survive
anyway, I've only had rattlesnake, and, uh, thats it...I think
-Ian

I've only eaten Saltwater Crocodile while in Australia and I can't really remember if it was good or not. I do recall that I ate the croc while camping next to a river containing many huge salties, and given the chance I'm sure they would have eaten me!

If you remember much of what you did in Australia, you weren't doing it right

Rattler (Atrox, Oreganus) Delish.
Sea turtle of some sort, in a stew of some sort. Had it as a kid in HI.- Delish. Wouldn't eat it again.
Alligator a couple different ways.-Delish
Frogs legs (Bull?) a couple times-Delish

When I'm herping I like to noose a couple scelops and just snack on 'em while searching.
Seriously though. I'll colect a couple big, fresh DOR oreganus for the BBQ this year.

Every Christmas our local herp society has a potluck dinner. I thought it would be neat to bring some crocodile meat. It was the hit of the party! Found an excellent recipe online.

I"d have to say that it was probably a saltie having been imported from Australia.

Ian

Mmmmm. This thread is making me hungry.

What herps have I eaten? Let's see. What herps haven't I eaten. I like 'em all. Herps are best enjoyed while pretending that you're "surviving".

Gartersnake: Just bite of the head to kill it, then slurp it down like a nasty noodle. Best served with smelly swamp water.


Tree Frog: Yumm. Be sure to kill with the first bite. Don't want it wiggling around inside of you. Try it with a half shell of turtle blood.


Sand Lizard: Crunchy. Just cut off the head and chow down. I'd suggest washing it down with sweat from three day old underwear.


Of course, man does not live on herps alone. Fluids are critical. Most herps go well with your own urine.


Of course, if you're fresh out of piss, just cut open a dead camel and squeeze the juice from its gut contents.


I could post more, but I'm hungry. Think I'll go catch some water snakes. Don't worry, I won't kill or eat them (this time). I've just got a yearning for a fresh stew of Nerodia musk, feces, and whatever they're willing to regurge.

^I love this

Dude, it's as if your the only one that understands! My whole family thinks I'm crazy because I eat everything without a fork, while sitting in a bush, talking to an imaginary camera

okay the stories of herps we ate were all fun but it's time to start actually sharing recipes! i'll get the ball rolling. Haven't tried this yet but this is what i plan for my next culinary adventure as soon as i find one of these things up for "adoption"




Iguana in Curry Sauce

1 Iguana
5 Tbsp. Lemon juice
1 Tbsp. Curry powder
3 Cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
Leaves from 1 stalk celery, chopped
1 small hot pepper, chopped fine
2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 tsp. bouillon powder
2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil
2 tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper

Cleaning the Iguana

Hang the iguana by the head. Cut off the feet and the crest on the back. Grab the skin with both hands at the back where you cut the crest off, and pull it towards the front until it all comes off. Cut off the tail. Cut the chest cavity open and remove the entrails. Take it down and cut off the head. Wash the iguana thoroughly. Cut it into pieces and put it in a bowl of water with the lemon juice and 1 tsp. salt. Stir. Let it sit for ½ hour.

Cooking

Take the meat out of the water, pat it dry and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a frying pan or wok. Add the garlic and curry powder. Stir for about a minute.

Add the meat, tomatoes and onions. Continue stirring.

Add ½ cup water, the celery leaves, hot pepper and bouillon cubes (crushed) or powder.

Turn the heat down, and let the meat stew for ½ hour, adding more water as necessary.



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