Hunting for mountain specialties

If in the plains and urban areas, people are familiar with specialties such as field crabs, snails, field mice, etc., then on the mountains covered with green forests all year round, there are also similar animals, but they are considered specialties of the highlands. Hunting them is not simple because the hunter has to face the harsh wild environment and requires a lot of experience.

Having the opportunity to visit Dai mountain range (Ngoa Long Son), in O Lam commune, I understood the livelihood of the people here. In addition to the main work of farming and gardening, hunting mountain rats, catching ants... is considered a part-time job for the people, contributing to increasing income, especially during the fruit harvest season.

To learn more about this work, we followed a group of people who have lived on the mountain for a long time. The heavy rains of the previous days had made the green and dense grass cover up the familiar trails. However, that did not discourage the forest hunters who knew every tree and rock. They still went to check the traps set the day before in the hope of "hitting the jackpot" after a long night of wild animals searching for food.

“To catch mountain rats, people often use traps similar to those for field rats or house rats, the most common being the traps sold on the market. There are many different types of traps depending on the choice and experience of each person. However, to make the rats easily caught in the trap, you must place it in the right place, along their path. Mountain rats live in the wild, so they are cunning and alert. If the gardener is subjective and does not handle the damage in time, it means losing all the delicious fruit. If the trap is not set carefully, the rats will immediately avoid it and not return,” said Ms. My Quyen, a resident of O Lam commune.

According to Mr. Minh Canh, residing in O Ta Soc hamlet, O Lam commune, the means to trap mountain rats and kindling them are not different from trapping house rats. However, setting the traps effectively requires experience and understanding of their habits.

Delicious dishes made from mountain rats. Photo: NGUYEN HUNG

Mountain rats and mice only like to appear in places with lots of ripe, delicious fruit, but because they live in the forest, they are very smart. If one gets caught in a trap somewhere, the others will not come back to that place. “To catch a lot of mountain rats, people have to buy many traps, spread them in different areas, and catch them on their path to be successful. If the trap is not sturdy or is not secure, they will bite, destroy the trap or find a way to get out. Mountain rats are very strong and smart, it is not easy to catch them,” Mr. Canh shared.

According to Mr. Canh, to lure mountain rats and light them effectively, people often use ripe bananas and fragrant mangoes as bait. In addition, because most traps are set in the late afternoon and people may return to check them a few days later, a little water is added to each trap to prevent the rats from dying of thirst. “Rarely do rats die in traps because they are strong. It is important to check the traps carefully before placing them. If the traps are damaged, rusty or loose, it is considered a waste of effort,” said Mr. Canh.

Compared to the familiar snails and mountain crabs, mountain rats and nhen are quite strange to many people. Usually, only those who live in mountainous areas know clearly their habits and values. However, once they have tried dishes made from mountain rats or nhen, most tourists are delighted, love them, and then look to buy them to take home or order them when they have the opportunity to return. Gradually, these dishes have become specialties that urban people "hunt" every time they visit the highlands.

According to Ms. Ngoc Huong - Ms. My Quyen's younger sister, mountain rat meat, after being cleaned, is usually chopped into small pieces or left whole, then marinated with spices such as satay, soy sauce, lemongrass, etc., then fried, grilled, or stir-fried. In addition, it can also be cooked with bamboo shoots or banana trees depending on each person's taste. "The selling price is about a few tens of thousands per rat. If a customer orders, I will notify the customer immediately if I get caught in the trap," Ms. Huong said.

Mountain rats and mice are present all year round thanks to their strong reproductive ability, but the rainy season is the time when they are most caught, because at that time the fruit gardens begin to enter season, natural food is abundant, so they reproduce quickly and go out to find more food. However, because of this, gardeners are also worried about the fruit not yet harvested being bitten by rodents, causing a lot of loss.

Mountain rat trapping is not only a way to earn extra income but also a hobby that is closely associated with the lives of people in the mountains. Hunting mountain rats helps to limit the destruction of fruit trees, while also creating a food source to prepare many specialties to entertain guests when they come to visit.

NGUYEN HUNG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/san-dac-san-tren-nui-a462333.html