The Brits suddenly love squirrel! And so will we, probably: the critters run $3 each, and the Times concedes they seem perfect for a recession.

Writes the paper:

One might think that because of easy availability, squirrel would be the perfect meal-stretcher for these economically challenged times, but it takes a lot of work to get the meat off even the plumpest squirrel.



Ah, but labor gets cheap fast in a collapsed economy, and squirrels are plentiful. In fact, there are so many American squirrels they've invaded Britain, which is why the locals there so delight in smearing Yank-squirrel patê and gobbling roast Yank-squirrel in jus. (They don't eat the cute red native squirrels.)

Environmentalists will pay extra because the animal is local; less conscientious consumes can take advantage of the fact that squirrel slaughter is likely far less regulated in the U.S. than in the U.K. and thus cheaper.

My Texan great-great grandmother, already middle-aged by the time of the Great Depression, was legendary within the family for her butchery of squirrels and various other small mammals. Who would have imagined I'd need the same skills? (Plus pigeon-plucking tips as well, actually. They tend to be more plentiful in urban environments.)