Hi all. i used to wait til the end of the hunt and then clean all the squirrels. well, today i tried something different.I field dressed the squirrel within 10 minutes of harvesting it. i decided to drop the squirrel off at the truck and go back for more (got no more). when i dropped off the squirrel i put it in a plastic zip-lock and put it in a cooler. problem is there was no ice in the cooler. the squirrel just sat in there, in the bag, for another 3 hours. the temps never got higher than 50 degrees during that time.my question is, is the squirrel OK? Or do i have something to worry about, like bacteria or bad squirrel meat?

I think it would be ok but I don't know sorry.

thanks, i figured it'd be OK, but thought i'd ask. i plan on frying it up today for a snack!! i just wish i got a few more, but that's squirrel hunting!

Your meat should be fine , it takes awhile for bacteria to set in whether the hide is still on or not . Cooking will kill them anyway .

Not really sure about squirrel meat but I know that bacteria will begin to grow after four hours in a blood product at room temperature 20-24 degrees celsius.

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