One woman claims that rats are better than chicken when she stops to get roadkill in her vehicle. 

Sarah Day, 34, from Colchester, Essex is not squeamish about eating most animals, from rat or deer to pheasant and rabbit.  

The self-described ‘professional cavewoman’ isn’t satisfied with just eating the roadkill, but also the skin and bone. 

Sarah, who is an educator of history and survival skills to children, shares a variety of recipes she’s created, including pigeon wings or a sliced Venison sandwich.

Sarah Day, 34, calls herself a professional cave woman and will use dead animals for meat, fur and leather

Sarah Day, 34 years old, describes herself as a professional cavewoman. She will use meat, fur, or leather from dead animals

If roadkill is still juicy and warm, and largely intact, then Sarah will take it home and cook it or preserve it

Sarah will cook or preserve roadkill that is still warm and juicy if it’s not too damaged.

Sarah stated, “I consume roadkill at minimum once per week even though there’s not always an animal along the side of my road.”

“I have a lot of roadkill that I keep in my freezer, so it’s handy for winter when I can freeze the rabbit or deer to make stew.

The taste of rat is similar to that of squirrel.

It tastes like chicken, but is much better.

Her freezer is full of roadkill finds which she finds handy during the winter as she can defrost the deer or rabbit to make a hearty stew. Pictured: venison roadkill

She keeps a lot of roadkill items in her freezer, which she uses to defrost rabbits and deer for a delicious stew. Photo: Venison roadkill

Homemade pesto from foraging. Cramp bark is another foraged item that Sarah claims is amazing for easing period pains

From foraging, you can make your own pesto. Sarah also claims that cramp bark, another item foraged from foraging is great for relieving period pains 

“And pigeons are like really great beef steaks.”

“Sometimes, I come across animals that are unsafe for eating because they have been lying around longer than 24hrs.

“Sometimes, roadkill can be too severe.”

When she is given an animal or find road kill, her philosophy is to use as much of the animal as possible

She will use every bit of roadkill or animal she can get, no matter what it is.

As well as finding meat, Sarah will source herbs; rosemary, sage and thyme, and meadowsweet which contains an aspirin-like chemical that helps with a cough. Pictured: fruit she foraged

Sarah sources meat from other places, including rosemary, sage, and thyme. Sarah also finds herbs, such as thyme and sage, as well as meadowsweet, which has an aspirin-like substance that relieves a sore throat. Photo: Fruit she foraged

“But, if the fruit is still warm and juicy, it can be taken with you.” 

Sarah stated that Sarah will use the meat if she can.

“I can make the skin leather. Sometimes the guts can be made into leather.

“I use their bones for tools and weapons.”

Sarah Day surrounded by real animal skins and cooking on a fire. She keeps skulls as she admires the engineering

Sarah Day is surrounded with real animal skins, and cooks over a fire. As she loves engineering, Sarah Day keeps skulls.

Sarah thinks survival has become sensationalised, and says it's not about running around and climbing waterfalls. Pictured: cooking fish

Sarah feels survival has become sensationalized. She says that survival isn’t about running and climbing waterfalls. Pictured: cooking fish

Pheasant rabbit and pigeon terrine. Sarah said that pigeon is a lot like a really good beef steak

Pigeon terrine and Pheasant rabbit. Sarah stated that the pigeon tastes a lot like good steak.

The skull is an amazing piece of engineering that I keep.

“If I see a fox I’ll pick it up to get its skin.”

“It’s not a problem to do this, the animal is already dead and it’s better that it gets skinned some other way.

Sarah even though she has frozen her roadkill, she still buys meat at the local grocery store.

Sarah Day works teaching schoolchildren survival skills. As well as eating meat, Sarah likes to test how plants work for coughs and headaches rather than going to a chemist

Sarah Day is a survivalist who teaches schoolchildren. Sarah prefers not to go to the chemist, but she will eat meat.

Sometimes, Sarah comes across an animal but it is unsafe to eat as it will be cold and floppy meaning it has been there for longer than 24 hours. Pictured: Roadkill rabbit

Sarah sometimes comes across an animal Sarah doesn’t want to eat. Pictured: Roadkill rabbit

Pictured, Roadkill deer. Sarah will often use dead animals for their skin, and doesn't see any harm in doing this as it is already dead

Pictured, Roadkill deer. Sarah is open to using dead animals as skin.

Sarah Day with some road kill. Despite having frozen roadkill at home, Sarah still shops in her local supermarkets for meat

Sarah Day enjoying some roadkill. Sarah Day with some road kill. Sarah shops at her local supermarkets even though she has frozen the roadkill.

According to the teacher, living in the wilderness is about about working smart, the more you practise the better you become. Pictured: Roadkill on a chopping board

The teacher said that living in the wilderness means working smart. He suggested that the best way to improve your skills is to practice. Pictured: Roadkill cut on a cutting board

Although Sarah has a house in the middle of a town which is her official home, she admits she would rather be in a tent

Sarah lives in an apartment in the center of town, but she says she’d rather live in a tent.

SARAH’S FIVE TOP SURVIVAL TIPS 

1. Create a tribe 

“You shouldn’t be all alone. It’s difficult to support yourself in historical times. You need others to build things and hunt.

2. A fire is essential

It is essential to heat and cook, and it is also necessary for making fire and bending wood.

3. Be patient

“There’s no reason to hurry, this is not a movie.”

4. Do not eat anything that isn’t edible.

“Even water from streams without sterilization can cause harm, so make sure you do your homework!

5. Adjust your expectations to meet them

It is impossible to underestimate its difficulty. 

Sarah can also be found foraging for fruit and herbs.

She says, “I buy meat from the store because I am not like to see a roadkill pig.

“I tend to forage fruits and plants, but you need to be careful so that your health doesn’t suffer.”

“I prefer to see how plants treat headaches and coughs than to visit a chemist.

“I harvest medicinal plants such as willow bark. You can eat it, but it is quite revolting. It’s better to make a headache tea.

“I also mix rosemary, sage, and thyme. The meadowsweet contains an aspirin-like compound that relieves a sore throat.

“The Amber-like resin, which is extracted from cherry trees, helps to reduce the pain and coats the sore throat.

It is amazing to relieve period pains with a combination of cramp bark and eucalyptus.

Sarah began her interest in the Stone Age as a young child.

Ever since becoming fascinated with the stone age, her life has revolved around learning new survival skills such as how to build shelter, start fires from scratch and of course, how to eat road kill. Pictured: Sarah with a fossil

Since her fascination with the stone age began, Sarah has been learning survival skills like how to make shelters, build fires, and how to eat roadkill. Sarah holding a fossil

Sarah, who teaches children history and survival skills for a living, has shared a selection of dishes she has whipped up such as pigeon wings (pictured) and a sliced venison sandwich.

Sarah, who is a teacher of survival and history to children, shared some recipes she’s made, including pigeon wings and a slice of venison sandwich.

Sarah made her own sleeping bag out of reindeer skin as well as a selection of clothes from road kill for work

Sarah created her own sleeping bag from reindeer skin and a variety of work clothes made of roadkill.

Since then, her entire life revolves around survival skills like how to make shelter, light fires, and how to eat roadkill.

She continues, “I consider myself a professional cavewoman.”

“I have a home in the center of town that I consider my permanent residence, but would prefer to live in a tent.”

“I built my very own sleeping bag using reindeer skin. For work, I also have made clothes out of roadkill.

Sarah foraging Chicken Of The Woods mushrooms. She tends to forage plants and fruit but warns that extensive research is important for staying safe

Sarah searching for Chicken Of The Woods mushrooms. Although she enjoys foraging plants and fruit, Sarah warns that thorough research is necessary to ensure safety.

Sarah Day, 34, uses bones to make stone age weapons. She's careful to try to use every part of the animals she eats

Sarah Day, 34 years old, makes stone age weapons using bones. She makes sure to use all parts of every animal she eats.

“I’m currently infusing salmon skins with 100 tea bags for leather making.”

“I’ve lived on the land for several days before and I don’t feel like an incredible hunter.

“You feel tired and achy.” You are trying to get up. It’s not like watching a movie.

“It all comes down to working smart. You will become a better person if you do.

“I feel that survival has become sensationalized. It’s not all about climbing waterfalls and running around. The more you’re good at it, the cooler you’ll be.