As mentioned the parasitic load of wild canines is orders of magnitude greater than that of modern domestic canines. I don’t know how much worse the parasitic infestation of a wolf would be compared to bear. I’m not too interested in eating bear meat anyway…mostly because I’m not keen on eating predators.
With that said Lewis & Clark as well as North Korea look at dog as a delicacy. I can’t imagine that any canine from the pre-vaccination era of the 19th century would be any better or worse than wolves or coyotes.
I’ve heard great things about bear meat when properly cooked and taken from a “clean” bear, one that isn’t a dump bear or eating fish. I’m still happy to give any bear meat to a couple friends that love bear.
I’ve heard good things about cougar meat too. It’s been said that “painter” as the old timers referred to “panther” was as fine a wild game meat as could be found anywhere. There again I ain’t interested in eating mountain lions or bobcats unless I was dying of starvation.
I'm with you on all of those critters. I could no more eat a cat than fly.....
