Squirrel meat on the table after Quebec hunter starts petition

When Martin Poirier began hunting he didn't want to start with large animals like bears, moose or deer. He wanted to go smaller,way smaller.

He wanted to hunt squirrels.

But there was an issue: squirrel hunting is illegal in Quebec.

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SoPoirier launched a petition late lastmonth to legalize squirrel huntingin the province. It will be tabled in the National Assembly this fall byCoalitionAvenirQubecMNAMathieuLemay;Poirier is one of his constituents.

The petitionargues that hunting squirrel would benefit the economy. It also points out the government already allows the hunting of such small game animals asrabbits, hares, coyotes, wolves, marmots, raccoons, foxes, partridges, pigeons andquails.

Squirrel hunting is, moreover,legal in five provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

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ButPoirier acknowledgedthat supporters of his proposal first need to dispel certain misconceptions if it is to be successful.

"It's as if people are scared that their neighbours are going to go out in their gardens and shoot the little city squirrels," he said.

"That's not what we want."

Squirrel kabobs anyone?

For some, squirrel meat can be something of a delicacy. In 2014, the Quebec government launched a pilot project with a handful of top restaurants in the province to promote wild game, including squirrel.

DavidMcMillan, the owner-chef of the ever-trendy Joe Beef restaurant in Montreal's Little Burgundyneighbourhood, said he wasn't opposed to servingsquirrel, but can't find a supplier of the meat.

He describedsquirrel as"delicious," tasting like something halfway between hare and quail meat.

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Poirier, a political science student at the University of Montreal, added that squirrel meat is also healthybecause it contains more protein, less fat and fewer calories than beef or chicken.

But some experts want to rein in any budding enthusiasm for squirrel cuisine.

"It is not a wonder meat," said Jacques Dancosse,a biologist and veterinarian at Montreal'sBiodme.

While humans can consumesquirrel meat, doing so comes with certain risks, he said.

No squirrel tartar, says biologist

Dancosse explained that squirrels and other rodents are more likely to carry bacteria, such as salmonella, and they could also contain lead and mercury.

If it were legalized, consumers would need to be very careful when preparing the squirrel, he said.

"Especially the raw meat! I can not imagine eating a squirrel tartare!" he added. "It's very risky. It would have to be very regulated."

Supporters of the squirrel hunt, such asPoirier, insist there is a difference between the animals found in urban and rural areas. But that, forDancosse, is not the issue. They allcarrythepotentialfor disease.

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"The difference between a grey squirrel living in ParcLa Fontaine and a grey squirrel living in Sainte-Adle ... they are not so different as far as health is concerned,"Dancossesaid.

The scientist also questioned whether hunters would beable to recognize whether a squirrel is sick.

Quebecerswill be able to sign the petition on the National Assembly websiteuntil September 26th.