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.

i would also agree that this is not a human consumable.

another issue i have (which probably reflects my urban environment): any rodent that drowns to me immediately makes me concerned about rat poison, which is commonly used where i live. I would not eat a rodent that drowned or let my dog eat it either. Poisoned rodents often seek out water and often drown in livestock waterers or other unexpected places. You may live 100 miles from any other person who would be using such gick, and i hope that's the case, but just a thought.

Skin it is then. Will take out and thaw when I have the time and determination.

It didn’t seem like any part was salvageable, even the skin—it seemed too fragile. It might have had to do with pouring hot water over first, which helped a little with my squeamishness and the thawing out but maybe not in other ways.  I thought maybe the gut could become a string but it seemed fragile.

I buried the chipmunk in the garden.

I don't know if you'd want to do some fishing with the meat or end trails as bait, possibly in a fish trap rather than on a pole?  I don't know if you have fish in your area who would find those things tasty but perhaps.