A law has been passed in the US state of Montana, permitting residents to consume animals that they accidentally kill with their vehicles.
The bill, which achieved a vote tally of 19 to 2 in favor, authorizes the legal consumption of deer, elk, moose, and antelope that are struck and killed by cars.
Originally, the legislation included additional animals like sheep and bears, but those provisions were removed to prevent drivers from seeking financial gain by deliberately harming those animals.
State representative and trooper Steve Lavin, who sponsored the bill, explained in an interview with Fox News that he believed many people were overlooking a valuable food source.
‘As many know, numerous animals are struck by vehicles, and it’s a significant number. A lot of quality meat goes to waste out there,’ Mr. Lavin stated.
He also discussed with the New York Daily News the rationale behind the exclusion of certain animals from the legislation.
‘Some animals have parts that hold significant value, such as sheep, bobcats, and bears. Thus, I narrowed the bill to focus on deer, elk, moose, and antelope,’ he elaborated.
‘This law specifically targets those four species because their body parts do not carry the same value as those of sheep or bears.’
In 2011, Montana reported over 1,900 incidents involving wild animals, leading to the collection of nearly 7,000 carcasses from the roadsides.
