Survival

Food

Food Sources

Small Game

Insects

Reptiles

Fish

Plants

Small GameAdvantages

More abundant

Easier to prepare

Can be easier to catch

Small GameCut hide around body

Insert 2 fingers under hide on both sides of cut and pull apart

Remove entrails including chest cavity

Insects

One of the most abundant life-forms on earth

Easily caught

65-80% proteinBeef 20%

Insects

Avoid – Sting, bite, hairy, brightly colored, or bad odor

Ticks, flies, mosquitoes (Disease carriers)

Hard shelled ones may contain parasites, cook before eating

Avoid toads

InsectsCan be found under logs, dark, wet places

Place worms in water; they will clean themselves

ReptilesCan eat raw

May contain parasites

Do not have same blood disease because cold blooded

Fish

Nets, baited line, or traps

Provide good protein and fat content

FishSunken eyes, peculiar odor or color, dents stay in flesh after poking, slimy, or sharp/peppery/metallic taste

Diarrhea, nausea, cramps, vomiting, itching, paralysis, and others

FishPrepare as soon as possible

Boil or cook over fire

Wrap in clay balls and place in fire, once clay hardens, fish done

SnakeAvoid poisonous because of risk

Cut off and bury head

Slit skin 15-20cm down and peel off

Cut into small sections to roast or boil

Birds

Pluck feathers

Can remove skin but this removes nutrition

Boil scavenger birds for at least 20minutes to kill parasites

Preservation

Smoking MeatPreserves meat

Use 3 poles to create teepee or create a pit

Create racks to drape meat across

Slices no thicker than 6cm and not touching

Smoking Meat

Use only hardwoods that are somewhat green (soak in water if needed)

Overnight = 1 week

2 days continuous = 2-4 weeks

Drying meat

Cut 6mm slices with grain

Hang on rack in sunny location with good airflow

Dry, crisp texture that does not feel cool

Salting

Soak in salt water

Cover with salt and brush off before eating

PlantsMust avoid accidental poisoning!!

Avoid plants near roadways

Avoid fruit that looks to be spoiled, may contain fungus

Avoid almond scent –cyanide

TanninsCause biter taste

Washing in several baths of boiling water, eliminates

Place in flowing stream

Mushrooms

Just say no!

Universal Edibility Test

AvoidMilky or discolored sap

Beans, bulbs, seeds inside pods

Bitter/soapy taste

Spines, hairs, or thorns

Dill, carrot, parsnip foliage

Three leaved growth