PHOENIX -- Money has gotten so tight that it has forced some Arizona families to actually turn to roadkill for a source of protein.

It started as a fun hobby for one man when he was in his teens.

"I'd go out and hunt squirrels, and I'd take them home and I'd eat them," Wade Shepard said.

Shepard, a New York native, turned his sights on roadkill after he found a freshly killed squirrel on the side of the highway.

"It was just like recently run over, freshly killed meat," Shepard said. "I took it home and ate it."

Driving around the Arizona desert with his wife and newborn daughter, the archaeologist said he is now always on the lookout for dinner. His methods are highly unscientific.

"Hop out of the car, walk over, kick it a few times, poke it with a stick and make sure it's not too stiff," Shepard said.

On his blog vagabondjourney.com (WARNING: Graphic Images), Shepard details the rules of roadkill.

"If the meat looks like something you wouldn't find in a supermarket, don't touch it," he said. "If the eyes are all glazed over, or if it's been eaten by something else..."

Wade said he cleans the animal and then soaks it in salt water before boiling his bounty to kill any bacteria. He then enjoys the meat in tacos or pasta. And for those who don't think they could stomach such a meal?

"Take a tour of a meat processing plant, that's pretty gross," Shepard said. "At least roadkill is out in the open. The animal lived a natural life in a natural environment and got killed immediately."

For those interested in saving money this way, keep in mind that in the state of Arizona, harvesting big game -- such as deer and elk --requires a permit.