Serving up squirrels: World Champion Squirrel Cookoff

Valerie ZhangSPRINGDALE, Ark. —

The World Champion Squirrel Cookoff returned with squirrel stovetop, squirrel ice cream, and other creative dishes using the unexpected protein. Cooking began at 9 a.m. on Saturday Sep. 12. While many dishes highlighted squirrel meat, there was also rabbit, alligator, and wild boar.

Teams handed out food and samples from their tents.

All dishes part of the contest must have used wild-harvested squirrels as their base protein.

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The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s K-9 Unit also had a demonstration to show how wardens track down poachers as well as assisting law enforcement agencies in search-and-rescue operations.