Drowned chipmunk

I had a bucket of diluted urine out in the garden and was about to go and use it on the plants, when I found a dead chipmunk floating in there. There were a couple of flies buzzing around, and they had laid some eggs, but there was no smell coming from the bucket. Then again, that sort of fly laid eggs on my wet woolen blanket. I presume the chipmunk has been dead only a couple of hours, and immediately double-bagged and placed in the freezer. I’m hoping to garner at least the skin of the animal, probably too far gone for meat? (Chipmunk erhu? too small for a banjo) The limbs were a little bit stiff but overall the body still seemed to show a degree of flexibility.

Thoughts? Ideas?

It happens. And it's a topic worth considering. There is evidence that aboriginal women's trapping of small animals was an important hedge against famine.

In drought years, young and foolish squirrels routinely drown themselves in my water barrels trying to get a drink.

In my opinion, the meat from this chipmunk is not suitable for human consumption. It wasn't bled out and it wasn't gutted and cooled in a timely manner. Decomposition begins immediately, and it starts in the gut. This creates heat that speeds decomp from the inside out. This continues, even in the freezer.

Perhaps this might become a hot composting experiment?

That makes sense! Maybe hawk or owl food would be a good use. They can come and scare away the rats and chipmunks, hopefully.

Also good to know about the trapping! It is something I’d like to get more into.