Can Catholics eat beaver during Lent?

Answer 1

I assume you are referring to the industrious rodent of dam-building prowess. In that case- of course not, the Beaver is a mammal and flesh of animals is considered meat- banned on fast days in Lent- Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, and all Fridays in Lent. Fish is exempted - hence the use of fish symbols on old church calendars- but meat of ground animals- somebody asked about Turtle- that:s an animal, not a fish, would be off-limits.

However, there is a tradition in some parts of Michigan where muskrat is allowed. Evidently sometime in the past the priest said it was alright, so there are places that serve it during Lent.

BUT......

The 17th century Catholic Church actually declared beavers to be a fish according to dietary restrictions, meaning they are ok to eat on both Fridays and throughout Lent. Beaver meat was a common dish by Native Americans and French settlers to America, so the decision was believed to be important to these people's behaviors. The church decisions are based more on an animal's environment than their physical characteristics