last year, went out squirrel hunting on private property with a friend and we brought 2 squirrels back that day. we got them at about 8:00-9:30 and they didnt get home until about 2:30. ate them and never got sick. they were in our hands yet. we just cooked them kinda like a turkey. put it in boiling water for like 15 min and then butter it. yummy