The tradition of eating muskrat during Lent began in the 1780s, when French Catholics from Detroit moved south to establish homesteads in what now is known as Michigan’s Downriver region. To survive the harsh winters, trappers and hunters ate muskrat, a tradition that continues with Michigan’s annual muskrat dinners in February.
by Don Corrigan
“Muskrat Love” is a romantic rock hit by Captain & Tennille from the 1970s. But muskrat love can also be about firing up the old taste buds with a savory muskrat steak or a garlic-seasoned muskrat smothered in onions.
An American tradition of chowing on muskrat began in the 1780s. That’s when French Catholics from Detroit moved south to establish homesteads in what’s known as the “Downriver Region.” To survive the harsh winters, trappers and hunters ate muskrat.
The downriver dining tradition was carried to other parts of the United States, including Missouri with its many rivers and its fur trappers. Fur trappers sometimes survived on the little critters as they headed west in pursuit of pelts.
Today, a muskrat meal is not considered a culinary delight in Missouri, but the eating tradition continues in parts of Michigan. In Missouri, you will not find Missouri Conservation Department officials offering muskrat recipes in their MDC literature.
Environmental Echo 