19 replies to this topic

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Hey guys I got two cottontails yesterday and while cleaning them out I ran across what I think are warbles, but I'm not sure. Here are a couple of pictures of them, along with the two cottontails. Are these warbles, and if so, is it still safe to eat the meat?  2.jpg   33.79K   40 downloads  4.jpg   49.42K   36 downloads  6.jpg   76.23K   34 downloads

[BADCOYOTE]

What the hek are warbles

[X EAGLE 23 X]

From what I've read (I've never actually encountered one (unless these are them)) they are botfly lava. The botfly lays eggs on animals, such as rabbits, and when the eggs become into lava they are called "warbles." I don't have nevery much knowledge on them other than this, so I was hoping some of you could shed some light on the matter.

[ShooterJohn]

Yes they are warbles! They happen in rabbits but I've never found many. Here is something on them and shows a picture.http://www.michigan....26354--,00.htmlAs long at the meat is cooked thoroughly you should be fine. If not sorry. Just kidding.

This parasite is of no public health significance and properly cooked meat from infected animals is safe to eat.

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Thanks ShooterJohn. I put them in a bag yesterday and took them home and when I took them out of the bag I just saw these huge lava things hanging off of them and that got me quite freaked out! Then as I was cleaning one I ran across another one under the skin, quite scary lol! But thanks for answering the question and I'll be sure to thoroughly cook the meat!

[mac]

sorry, but if I saw something like that on any game I would throw in my mouth a little first, then probably not eat the meat!

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Yeah that was my first instinct Mac, I almost did just thorw them aaway right then and there. But I really wanted the hide so I decided to skin them then throw them away. Then as I was skinning them I remembered the stories my grandma told me about Warbles and so I thought I would save the meat and ask you guys about it and see what you guys thought before I decided to etiher keep or throw the meat away.

[mac]

Tell you what, my step-dad and I shot a nice 3 pt on the top of Look Out Mountain (Red Mountain as we called it) ~30yrs ago - went up to it afterwards and saw it had several massice growths - like warts - on it's body and around the face, plus an old wound right across the neck. We gutted it, drragged it down the mountain and brought it home, then called DFG biologist to pick it up for analysis...said the growths were malignent (sp), but still glad we didn't take it in for processing.

[ShooterJohn]

If you read that link I posted at the very end it says it's safe to eat the meat. Come on those larva don't eat that much.

[Bozsik]

Eggs are laid with a sticky coating to help them adhere to the coat of the host species. When the animal licks itself while grooming, the egg is ingested. The larva hatches and eats its way to the surface just under the skin and grows to maturity, then hatches out of the host and serches for a mate to atrt the process over again. i have about 30% of the rabbits I take have them in them. They are usually more common in mammals that are in close proximity to livestock.They done't have any effect on the meat.db

[Thumper Dunker]

Almost all wild game have them( Mamals) Beef cattle get them also they just do not tell you about them. Safe to eat. The meat not the bugs , bug might not be all that bad in a stew.

[tinhunter]

Its the larvae to a Bot fly. They are harmless to the meet, but look very disgusting and scary the first time when you see one in person.

[Stan]

In high school @ the school farm FFA my friends would remove them from there steers by placing a coke bottle over the bump and hit the bottom of the bottle and pop goes the bug er grub

[novaman64]

They can be common in horses as well.. Every now and then our horses get the eggs/larva on their legs, if ya dont wash it off (and its like tar) the horses can get them. They are a PITA.

[mac]

If you read that link I posted at the very end it says it's safe to eat the meat. Come on those larva don't eat that much.

Ok, maybe if I was living with the Kombai tribe and that was the only protein...but, what's the right word? NFW! LOL!!!

[ShooterJohn]

I know I give the portions next to where the bugs were to the dinner guests. I eat the parts farthest away.

[X EAGLE 23 X]

I know I give the portions next to where the bugs were to the dinner guests. I eat the parts farthest away.

Oh geez...I don't think any of us will be going over to your house for dinner any time soon...

[Jason]

We used to call them grubs. They may be harmless but the one time I had them on some rabbits I fed the rabbits to the buzzards. Only seen it once but the things were as big around as my thumb.

[clampdaddy]

A couple of the cottontails I harvested had them too. Maybee it was coincidence but they were always under the skin at the juncture of the neck and shoulder. I just trimmed off the affected shoulders. I knew that the meat was fine but it just made me feel better knowing that what I was about to eat didn't come into contact with that big, fat, nasty grub.

[lilwes278]

Oh you guys are sissies! Roll those warbles in flour & pan fry 'em...tastes like chicken!