How To Clean A Squirrel

Here are some concise directions for how to clean a squirrel. First, place the squirrel on a table or other suitable object like a large flat rock or a log. Take your fingers and grasp the skin in the middle of the squirrels back with your fingertips.

Next, cut off the hands and feet of the squirrel. Easy!

Next step, cut the fur that you have pinched. Cut it in a direction that is left to right on the squirrel, not front to back. After you have made that cut, put a finger into the opening. On finger from each hand. One hand should grab the head side of the cut and the other hand should grab the fur on the tail side of the cut.

Now pull your hands away from each other. The fur of a squirrel is not strong and not well connected to the animal. By pulling you should be able to separate the fur from the body like taking off a shirt and pants in two clean pieces. Use a knife or other sharp object to help anywhere the fur is being stubburn.

Continue pulling and cut off the tail after the fur has reached the tail. Cut the entire tail off.

Pull the front fur up and around the neck just to the base of the squirrels head. Cut off the head.

Now with your finger find the bottom of the rib cage with your finger. Make a very shallow cut just below the sternum down towards the anus. Be careful to only cut through the thin stomach muscle and not puncture the guts.

Now you simply have to endure a little grossness and remove the guts with your hands. If anything wants to remain attached to the body cavity simply cut it away with a knife. Cut off the genitals.

The body cavity is separated into two compartments. The rear is filled with intestines and stomach. Be sure to also evacuate the upper cavity which holds the lungs and heart.

Wash the carcass clean of hair and debris and it is now ready to be cooked.

The squirrel can be cooked whole or cut into sections and cooked separately.