Marmots

So on the trip, Cormac acquired a blowtorched marmot's paw. He had been giving me a hard time about being a fussy eater and I make an effort to try everything once so I had a piece. Needless to say it was not tasty. I didn't think much of this experience until I got back to UB and was reading my Lonely Planet guide.

"Got a hankerin' for blowtorched rodent? Pop into a ger and ask around for some boodog, the authentic Mongolian barbeque. The summer delight first involves pulling the innards out of the neck of a goat or marmot. The carcass is then stuffed full of scalding rocks and the neck cinced up with wire. The bloated animal is then thrown upon a fire (or blowtorched) to burn the fur off the outside while the meat is cooked from within. The finished product vaguely resembles a balloon with paws.
Like most things involving a blowtorch, preparing boodog is true men's work. Furthering the adventure it is worth noting that the Bubonic plague, or Black Death as it was known to medieval Europe, can be passed by handling marmot skins."

After reading this I decided I would expand my knowledge of the Bubonic plague. So I read this,
"The untreated disease has a 60% death rate, but if you can get to a doctor you can be quickly treated. The best drug is the antibiotic streptomycin, which must be injected intramuscularly, but it is not available in Mongolia."

I haven't gotten sick, I am pretty sure the marmot was fine but I think it will be my first and last piece.