FIRE
1.Cell phones have a battery that can ignite things like steel wool or small batteries.
2.chlorine powder or tablets that you can shave or pound into powder, you can combine that with brake fluid to start a fire.
3.sun’s energy in one spot.magnifying glass is a great fire starter. One REALLY FREAKING POWERFUL way to do this is to take the Fresnel lens out of a broken projection TV to light a fire. This works so well that you could use this to cook with or heat water
4.Take your flint rock (a rock that emits sparks) and hold it between your thumb and forefinger. Allow about two or three inches of flint to extend past your grasp.Grab a piece of char cloth between your thumb and the flint. Char cloths are small squares of cloth that have been turned into easily combustible charcoal pieces. If you do not have any char cloth on hand, you can also use lightweight tree fungus.Take the back of a steel striker or the back of a knife blade (depending on which you have handy) and quickly scrape the steel against the flint. Continue to strike until sparks begin to form.
5.Find a piece of wood to use as the base of your hand drill, otherwise known as a fire board, and cut a small V-shaped notch into the center using a knife or other sharp object.
Place your tinder nest underneath the V-shaped notch. You want to have the tinder right next to base of the spindle so that you can easily create flames.roll the spindle quickly between your hands, pushing one hand forward and then the other, until an ember is formed on the fire board.To Create Fire Then add tiny pieces Of timber to start Then Add Bigger Once the fire Is good
6.Potassium Permanganate and Glycerine (chemical reaction)
You’re probably not gonna have the two on you when you’ll need them to start a fire but… they do work!
Water
1. Fill a pot with water. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Remove the pot from the heat. Let the water sit and settle.
2.Form a cone out of a strip of bark. Birch bark, or a bark similar to it, is best for creating this filtering system because it is flexible but will keep its shape. Keep in mind that this method will not fully purify the water, but it will reduce the amount of microbes in the water. This method should only be used in extreme emergencies.
If you are having a hard time keeping your bark in the shape of a cone, you could try to use a piece of rope or a durable type of grass around it to keep its shape.Layer the cone. Wildwood Survival suggests layering the cone with sand, charcoal, grass, and gravel (or small rocks.) Charcoal is especially good for removing bacteria. If you had fire, crush up some of the burnt pieces of wood.
Pour the water through the cone and into a container. Do this several times to increase the amount of purification that occurs. Again, this method does not guarantee purification, but it will remove a good deal of the contaminants in the water.
3.Use purification tablets or drops. You can purchase these drops or tablets at sporting goods and adventure stores. Keep in mind that this is not the best tasting method, but protection from bacteria is worth a bitter taste in your mouth.[9]
Iodine tablets are the most commonly sold purifying tablets, but you can also use chlorine tablets with the same result. These tablets are most effective when the water you are purifying is 68 degrees F (21 degrees C) or higher. These chemical tablets will kill bacteria living in your water. These tablets are most often used by campers in the wilderness.
Pregnant women, women over 50, and people with thyroid problems or taking Lithium should consult with a doctor before using iodine tablets.
Strain the water if it has large particles floating around in it. You can do this by pouring the water through a cloth and into the bottle or container that you will be purifying your water in. The cloth acts as a strainer that removes the particles floating in the water ,Place the tablets in the water. If your tablets or drops came with instructions, follow these now. In general, you will want to use one tablet for each quart or liter of water you wish to purify. Be aware that these tablets generally have an expiration date. If you use them after this date, they are much less likely to be effective. Always check the bottle before using these tablets.
Mix the tablets into the water until they dissolve. They must be completely dissolved so that they can mix most effectively with the water you are purifying. Wait 30 minutes before drinking the water, as the tablets need that time to effectively kill any bacteria in the water.[11]
You should also be aware that tablets are generally less effective in water that is very cold. If the water is 40 degrees F (4 degrees C), you should wait at least an hour after the tablets have dissolved before drinking the water. You can place the water in the sun to warm it up before using the tablets if you have the time to do so.To lessen the strange taste the tablets give the water, add flavoring to the water (if it is available to you.) Powdered lemonade mixes or a pinch of salt will mask the tablet flavor.
4. desert drinking water.Dig a few curved holes (the more the better) about 19 inches (50 cm) deep so that the moist subsoil is clearly visible.
If you are in dryer conditions, the moist subsoil may be slightly deeper. Dig until you find it.
Do not dig the hole/holes in the shade. This process needs direct sunlight to work correctly. Look around and make sure that shade won't move over your solar still before evening arrives.Throw any plants into the hole/holes.Place an open coffee can, mug, cup or canteen in the center of each hole.
If you have a length of plastic tubing, you can run it from the bottom of the coffee can out the edge of the hole. You can use the tubing to suck the water from the can without dismantling the still.Lay a taut piece of clear plastic wrap across the top of each hole.Create a seal by pouring sand in a circle around each hole along the outside of the plastic wrap.
Pour the sand 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) from the edge of the plastic wrap. Ensure that there are no gaps. The plastic wrap must seal the hole shut; if it is punctured, the water will not condense.Place a small to medium sized rock in the center of the plastic wrap so that the plastic wrap dips to a point above the can. Keep the plastic wrap from touching the can or else the water will not drip into the can.Wait for the sun to evaporate water out of the moist soil and any plants within each hole. The water will condense on the plastic wrap because it cannot escape the hole and will drip into the can. If you have installed plastic tubing, drink from that.Once the sun dries the subsoil in a hole, just dig another. Alternatively, you may dig deeper using the established hole/holes.
5.Using 550 paracord (or similar material), tie a clear plastic bag on the end of a plant or small tree branch. Do not use tape - the heat will prevent the tape from adhering effectively to the bag.Make sure the bag is sealed as tightly as possible around the branch. The plant transpires water during the process of transpiration.Water vapor will collect and condense in the bag. Make sure the water collecting in the bag won't drip out.Wait until evening for maximum condensation before removing the bag.Switch the bag to another branch and repeat.Expected yield is one cup of water per large bag - you will need several of these to survive.
6.salt water into drinking water allows you to distill a bit more water though you’ll still be using quite a bit of energy. It operates on basically the same theory as an alcohol still. You’ll also need a heat-resistant glass or metal bottle, a cork or rubber seal for the bottle, a few of feet of tubing and a catch-basin.
SHELTER FROM A SANDSTORM
Never try to fight your way through a sandstorm. These can occur quite suddenly and last for hours, sometimes even days. Any attempt to carry on will only get you lost and completely exhausted. Instead, stay calm and look for any form of shelter the landscape offers. Ensure that your eyes, nose and mouth are protected, then wait it out until the storm passes.
WATER
In normal climates, the average person can survive about three to five days without water. In the heat of a desert: much less. Before things become critical – and as repulsive as this sounds – you should drink your own urine if it’s relatively clear, as it can keep you alive. If your urine is already brownish and viscous, do not consume it and instead look for animals like snakes or bats. Drinking their blood can keep you from dehydrating, and although it carries the risk of infection, this becomes a rather secondary consideration when the only other option is death.
NAVIGATE
In some deserts, you‘ll have to cross difficult terrain to find a way back to civilization. For example, a rock formation can appear in front of you, blocking the path. In this case, you should first carefully consider whether it is worth taking the effort to climb over it.
Ask: will you be able to get back down on the other side? Is there a way back? Constantly assess the situation and never let your decisions take you beyond a point of no return.
CAMP
At night, the temperature in the desert drops considerably, and if all you have to keep warm are your clothes, you’ll soon become bitterly cold. During the day, keep collecting any wood and dry material to build a fire come the evening. Of course, it will eventually go out after you fall asleep.
The solution: dig a hole the length and width of your body in the sand and fill this with the glowing embers from the fire. Cover back over and lie down on it. Like underfloor heating, this trick will keep you warm through the night.
Camel
If you come across a dead camel that had got lost or was left by nomads in the sand, consider yourself very lucky – it could just save your life. You can eat the meat, drink the blood and, if necessary, even squeeze out the contents of the animal’s stomach. These can include water, if the camel has not yet decayed. The animal‘s fur makes the perfect blanket, and you can use the body as a shelter - provided you remove its innards beforehand.
World’s Deadliest Plants
Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
the most violently toxic plant in North America." A large wildflower in the carrot family, water hemlock resembles Queen Anne’s lace and is sometimes confused with edible parsnips or celery. However, water hemlock is infused with deadly cicutoxin, especially in its roots, and will rapidly generate potentially fatal symptoms in anyone unlucky enough to eat it. Painful convulsions, abdominal cramps, nausea, and death are common, and those who survive are often afflicted with amnesia or lasting tremors.
Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
sweetness of the berries that often lures children and unwitting adults to consume this lethal plant. A native of wooded or waste areas in central and southern Eurasia, deadly nightshade has dull green leaves and shiny black berries about the size of cherries. Nightshade contains atropine and scopolamine in its stems, leaves, berries, and roots, and causes paralysis in the involuntary muscles of the body, including the heart. Even physical contact with the leaves may cause skin irritation.
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
a North American herb with flat-topped clusters of small white flowers and contains a toxic alcohol known as trematol. Unlike those who have died from directly ingesting deadly plants, poor Nancy Hanks was poisoned by simply drinking the milk of a cow who had grazed on the plant. Indeed, both the meat and milk from poisoned livestock can pass the toxin to human consumers. Symptoms of "milk poisoning" include loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, abdominal discomfort, reddened tongue, abnormal acidity of the blood, and death. Luckily farmers are now aware of this life-threatening hazard and make efforts remove the plant from animal pastures.
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
is an attractive plant native to Africa. While the processed seeds are the source of castor oil, they naturally contain the poison ricin and are deadly in small amounts. It only takes one or two seeds to kill a child and up to eight to kill an adult. Ricin works by inhibiting the synthesis of proteins within cells and can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death. The poison was used in 1978 to assassinate Georgi Markov, a journalist who spoke out against the Bulgarian government, and has been mailed to several U.S. politicians in failed terrorism attempts. Most fatalities are the result of accidental ingestion by children and pets.
Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius)
Also called jequirity beans, these piously-named seeds contain abrin, an extremely deadly ribosome-inhibiting protein. Rosary peas are native to tropical areas and are often used in jewelry and prayer rosaries. While the seeds are not poisonous if intact, seeds that are scratched, broken, or chewed can be lethal. It only takes 3 micrograms of abrin to kill an adult, less than the amount of poison in one seed, and it is said that numerous jewelry makers have been made ill or died after accidentally pricking their fingers while working with the seeds. Like ricin, abrin prevents protein synthesis within cells and can cause organ failure within four days.
Oleander (Nerium oleander)
is a beautiful plant known for its striking flowers. Though commonly grown as a hedge and ornamental, all parts of the oleander plant are deadly and contain lethal cardiac glycosides known as oleandrin and neriine. If eaten, oleander can cause vomiting, diarrhea, erratic pulse, seizures, coma, and death, and contact with the leaves and sap is known to be a skin irritant to some people. Indeed, the toxins in oleander are so strong that people have become ill after eating honey made by bees that visited the flowers! Fortunately, fatalities from oleander poisoning are rare, as the plant is very bitter and thus quickly deters anyone sampling the vegetation.
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
is the most widely grown commercial non-food plant in the world. All parts of the plant, especially its leaves, contain the toxic alkaloids nicotine and anabasine, and can be fatal if eaten. Despite its designation as a cardiac poison, nicotine from tobacco is widely consumed around the world and is both psychoactive and addictive. Tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year, making it perhaps the most deadly plant in the world.
Most Venomous Snakes
Rattlesnake
The only snake from the Americas on the list, the Rattlesnake is easily identifiable by the tell tale rattle on the end of its tail. They are actually a part of the Pit Viper family, and are capable of striking at up to 2/3rd their body length. The Eastern Diamondback in considered the most venomous species in North America. Surprisingly, juveniles are considered more dangerous than adults, due to their inability to control the amount of venom injected. Most species of rattlesnakes have hemotoxic venom, destroying tissue, degenerating organs and causing coagulopathy (disrupted blood clotting). Some degree of permanent scarring is very likely in the event of a venomous bite, even with prompt, effective treatment, and can lead to the loss of a limb or death. Difficulty breathing, paralysis, drooling and massive hemorrhaging are also common symptoms. Thus, a rattlesnake bite is always a potentially fatal injury. Untreated rattlesnake bites, especially from larger species, are very often fatal. However, antivenin, when applied in time, reduces the death rate to less than 4%
Death Adder
The appropriately named Death Adder is found in Australia and New Guinea. They actually hunt and kill other snakes, including some on this list, usually via ambush. Death Adders look quite similar to vipers, in that they have triangular shaped heads and short, squat bodies. They typically inject around 40-100mg of venom with an LD of 0.4mg-0.5mg/kg. An untreated Death Adder bite is one of the most dangerous in the world. The venom is a neurotoxin. A bite causes paralysis and can cause death within 6 hours, due to respiratory failure. Symptoms generally peak within 24-48 hours. Antivenin is very successful in treating a bite from a Death Adder, particularly due to the relatively slow progression of symptoms, but before its development, a Death Adder bite had a fatality rate of 50%. With the quickest strike in the world, a Death Adder can go from strike position to striking and back again within 0.13 of a second.
Vipers
Vipers are found throughout most of the world, but arguably the most venomous is the Saw Scaled Viper and the Chain Viper, found primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia, particularly India, China and South East Asia. Vipers are quick tempered and generally nocturnal, often active after rains. They are also very fast. Most of these species have venom that cause symptoms that begin with pain at the site of the bite, immediately followed by swelling of the affected extremity. Bleeding is a common symptom, especially from the gums. There is a drop in blood pressure and the heart rate falls. Blistering occurs at the site of the bite, developing along the affected limb in severe cases. Necrosis is usually superficial and limited to the muscles near the bite, but may be severe in extreme cases. Vomiting and facial swelling occurs in about one-third of all cases. Severe pain may last for 2-4 weeks. Often, local swelling peaks within 48-72 hours, involving the affected limb. Discoloration may occur throughout the swollen area as red blood cells and plasma leak into muscle tissue. Death from septicaemia, respiratory or cardiac failure may occur 1 to 14 days post-bite, or even later.
Philippine Cobra
Most species of Cobra would not make this list; however the Philippine Cobra is the exception. Drop for drop, its venom is the most deadly of all the Cobra species, and they are capable of spitting it up to 3 metres. The venom is a neurotoxin which affects cardiac and respiratory function, and can cause neurotoxicity, respiratory paralysis and death in thirty minutes. The bite causes only minimal tissue damage. The neurotoxins interrupt the transmission of nerve signals by binding to the neuro-muscular junctions near the muscles. The symptoms might include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse and convulsions.
Tiger Snake
Found in Australia, the Tiger snake has a very potent neurotoxic venom. Death from a bite can occur within 30 minutes, but usually takes 6-24 hours. Prior to the development of antivenin, the fatality rate from Tiger snakes was 60-70%. Symptoms can include localized pain in the foot and neck region, tingling, numbness and sweating, followed by a fairly rapid onset of breathing difficulties and paralysis. The Tiger snake will generally flee if encountered, but can become aggressive when cornered. It strikes with unerring accuracy.
Black Mamba
The feared Black Mamba is found throughout many parts of the African continent. They are known to be highly aggressive, and strike with deadly precision. They are also the fastest land snake in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20km/h. These fearsome snakes can strike up to 12 times in a row. A single bite is capable of killing anywhere from 10-25 adults. The venom is a fast acting neurotoxin. Its bite delivers about 100–120 mg of venom, on average; however, it can deliver up to 400 mg. If the venom reaches a vein, 0.25 mg/kg is sufficient to kill a human in 50% of cases. The initial symptom of the bite is local pain in the bite area, although not as severe as snakes with hemotoxins. The victim then experiences a tingling sensation in the mouth and extremities, double vision, tunnel vision, severe confusion, fever, excessive salivation (including foaming of the mouth and nose) and pronounced ataxia (lack of muscle control). If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, pallor, shock, nephrotoxicity, cardio toxicity and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma and then death. Without antivenin, the mortality rate is nearly 100%, among the highest of all venomous snakes. Depending on the nature of the bite, death can result at any time between 15 minutes and 3 hours.
Taipan
Another entry from Australia, the venom in a Taipan is strong enough to kill up to 12,000 guinea pigs. The venom clots the victim’s blood, blocking arteries or veins. It is also highly neurotoxic. Before the advent of an antivenin, there are no known survivors of a Taipan bite, and death typically occurs within an hour. Even with successful administration of antivenin, most victims will have an extensive stay in intensive care. It has been likened to the African Black Mamba in morphology, ecology and behavior.
Blue Krait
The Malayan or Blue Krait is, by far, the most deadly of this species. Found throughout South East Asia and Indonesia, 50% of bites from the deadly Blue Krait are fatal, even with the administration of antivenin. Kraits hunt and kill other snakes, even cannibalizing other Kraits. They are a nocturnal breed, and are more aggressive under the cover of darkness. However, overall they are quite timid and will often attempt to hide rather than fight. The venom is a neurotoxin, 16 times more potent than that of a Cobra. It quickly induces muscle paralysis by preventing the ability of nerve endings to properly release the chemical that sends the message to the next nerve. This is followed by a period of massive over excitation (cramps, tremors, spasms), which finally tails off to paralysis. Fortunately, bites from Kraits are rare due to their nocturnal nature. Before the development of antivenin, the fatality rate was a whopping 85%. Even if antivenin is administered in time, you are far from assured survival. Death usually occurs within 6-12 hours of a Krait bite. Even if patients make it to a hospital, permanent coma and even brain death from hypoxia may occur, given potentially long transport times to get medical care.
Eastern Brown Snake
Don’t let the innocuous name of this snake fool you, 1/14,000 of an ounce of its venom is enough to kill an adult human. Coming in a variety of species, the Eastern Brown snake is the most venomous. Unfortunately, its preferred habitat is also along the major population centers of Australia. The Brown snake is fast moving, can be aggressive under certain circumstances and has been known to chase aggressors and repeatedly strike at them. Even juveniles can kill a human. The venom contains both neurotoxins and blood coagulants. Fortunately for humans, less than half of bites contain venom and they prefer not to bite if at all possible. They react only to movement, so stand very still if you ever encounter one in the wild.
Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan
While I did say that I would not include multiple sub-species in this list, the incredible Inland Taipan deserves a spot of its own. It has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. The maximum yield recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans, or 250,000 mice! With an LD/50 of 0.03mg/kg, it is 10 times as venomous as the Mojave Rattlesnake, and 50 times more than the common Cobra. Fortunately, the Inland Taipan is not particularly aggressive and is rarely encountered by humans in the wild. No fatalities have ever been recorded, though it could potentially kill an adult human within 45 minutes.
Belcher’s Sea Snake
The most venomous snake known in the world, a few milligrams is strong enough to kill 1000 people! Less than 1/4 of bites will contain venom, and they are relatively docile. Fisherman are usually the victims of these bites, as they encounter the species when they pull nets from the ocean. Found throughout waters off South East Asia and Northern Australia.
Hobo Spider (Tegenaria agrestis)
The actual danger the hobo spider presents to humans is somewhat debatable. It has been proven to deliver quite serious bites to lab animals and there are many alleged cases of bites from these spiders causing necrosis, similar, but less severe than that observed in brown recluse bites. These bites cause an open wound whihc may take many weeks to heal.
There are two reasons the hobo spider has made it onto this list; firstly it is aggressive and fairly common, which increases the chance of an actual bite occurring. In fact the hobo spider is sometimes referred to as the ‘aggressive house spider’, although this could stem from a misinterpretation of its Latin name T. agrestis.
The other reason I’ve included this spider on the list is just because it is quite interesting that this spider only recently arrived in North America. Previously it was common throughout Europe and went practically unnoticed. Where it differs is that in Europe the hobo spider is not found in houses – other bigger, meaner house spiders keep it out!
Camel Spider (Solifugae)
The camel spider really is the stuff of nightmares. The biggest is the Egyptian giant solpugid with a body reaching up to six inches (15cm) in length and powerful jaws making up about a quarter of that this would be one of the biggest, scariest looking spiders in the world, except for one thing – it isn’t a spider, or a camel for that matter. Camel spiders are in fact a type of arachnid known as solifuges, which literally translates as ‘flee from the sun’. Also known as wind scorpions and sun spiders, solifuges are found in deserts throughout the world.
So why is the camel spider in the list at all? Well basically just because they look so fierce and grow so big. They are also lightning fast and capable of running at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 kph). Solifuges can inflict a painful bite but they are not venomous. So those stories about them crawling under camels, disemboweling camels and eating the insides might just be a little bit of an exaggeration!
Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium)
Small and innocuous in appearance but capable of delivering quite a nasty bite, the yellow sac spider is one to avoid. The spiders of the Cheiracanthium family are usually between 5 and 10mm (1/4 to 3/8 ins) long and are pale yellow or green in colour. They are fairly widespread occurring from Australia to Canada and many places in between.
The venom of the yellow sac spider is a cytotoxin, which means it breaks down cells, possibly causing necrosis. Bites are characterized by an initial stinging pain followed by redness and swelling which can develop into a blister or sore. The bite is often compared to that of the brown recluse, although it is less severe and any resulting wound is likely to heal much faster. Some experts reckon that many recorded brown recluse bites are in fact sac spider bites and that these spiders are responsible for more bites than any other species.
Fringed Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria)
Tarantulas – the archetypal big hairy spiders that have been the terror of arachnophobes since time began. The name comes from a Spanish dance, which apparently is how people jumped around when bitten by one of these critters. Unlike the smaller spiders on this list tarantulas are mygalomorphs, which means their twin fangs point downwards and have to be stabbed into the prey, rather than the pincer like action of most smaller species.
But everybody knows that despite their terrifying demeanor, tarantula bites aren’t so bad, right? Well it may be true that most tarantula bites are no worse than a bee sting, however the Poecilotheria genus of spiders are renown for having a particularly nasty bite, none more so than Poecilotheria ornata – the fringed ornamental tarantula. The bite from one of these is reported to have caused excruciating pain, and extreme muscle cramping in some cases. One bite victim ended up in the emergency room after experiencing severe spasm and chest pains.
So whilst there have been no confirmed fatalities from this tarantula it certainly carries a potent venom and injects it by the bucket load.
Mouse Spider (Missulena)
At this point we encounter our first Australian spider and the bites become that bit more medically significant. There are around 12 species of mouse spider in Australia and there name comes from their soft furry abdomens and not from the fact they might eat mice, although I’m sure they would. Armed with huge fangs and a venom that is similar to that of the deadly Sydney funnel-web spider this spider is every bit as dangerous as it looks.
Whilst the mouse spider is potentially dangerous it is far less aggressive than the Sydney funnel-web plus it often gives ‘dry bites’, i.e. without venom. Therefore it appears lower on this list than its meaner cousin.
Six-eyed Sand Spider (Sicarius hahni)
What’s got eight legs, six eyes and lives in the deserts of Southern Africa?! That’s right, the six-eyed sand spider.
The scientific name for this spider’s family is Sicarius which means ‘murderer’ and the spider is certainly an assassin. It hunts by burying itself in the sand and waiting for its unsuspecting victim to wander by at which point it pounces. In trials it was shown that the venom from a bite was fatal to rabbits in as little as 5 hours.
Like their close relatives, the recluse spiders, the venom of the six-eyed sand spider is a powerful cytotoxin. In the case of Sicarius the venom is both hemolytic and necrotic meaning it causes blood vessels to leak and destruction of flesh.
But how dangerous is this spider to humans? Well we aren’t quite sure; there have only ever been two suspected cases of bites to humans and neither were conclusively attributed to the six-eye. Combined with the fact it can survive for a year on one meal it probably isn’t the biggest threat to humans.
Redback / Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus)
The black widow spider, or redback as it is known in Australia is one of the most iconic spiders on the planet. Instantly recognisable by its round black abdomen with striking red markings these are definitely spiders not to be trifled with. Both the redback and the black widow are from the Latrodectus family with the redback being marginally more venomous than the black widow. And that venom is potent, more so than any other spider but one. The only reason these spiders don’t top the list is because they are smaller and deliver less of it.
The effects of this lethal toxin range from burning pain to a systemic condition known as latrodectism. Symptoms include general pain and swelling spreading from the affected area, abdominal cramps, nausea and sweating to name a few. This condition occurs in around half of bites and was often fatal in the very old and young before anti venom became available.
Brown Recluse / Chilean Recluse (Loxosceles)
The recluse spiders occur in warmer climes throughout the world. Also known as violin spiders, fiddle-backs or even reapers these six-eyed spiders all possess tissue destroying venom and belong to the Loxosceles family.
Recluse spiders have garnered quite a reputation for themselves over recent years and the internet is awash with some pretty ugly photos of the effects of their bite. The venom of this group of spiders is known to be necrotic, i.e. flesh-eating and whilst usually mild, can result in a condition known as Loxoscelism. In these severe cases the area around the bite begins to die and a deep open sore is formed. There is no effective treatment for these bite wounds and they may take months to heal, sometimes requiring skin grafts.
In the very worse cases limbs have needed to be amputated and there have been a significant number of fatal bites, particularly from the Chilean recluse.
On a more positive note, the recluse is so called as it is relatively shy and not regarded as aggressive. Their small fangs also make it less likely they will deliver a significant dose of venom.
However, think twice before spraying them with a dose of bug-killer; it is reported that they are immune to some insecticides and only make them more toxic and angry!
Sydney funnel web (Atrax robustus)
The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is a veritable bruiser amongst the spider world. Whilst most spiders seek to avoid confrontation with humans the funnel-web will charge in delivering a volley of bites whilst clinging to its victim. So although its venom is no more potent than many of the spiders on this list, the funnel-web makes sure the unfortunate recipient gets the full dose.
In addition to its temperament the Sydney funnel-web is well equipped for the job. It has the most impressive fangs of any spider; these needle sharp weapons are longer than those of some snakes. Armed with these killer fangs and powerfully built, the funnel web is reputed to be able to bite through shoe leather and even finger nails.
Unlike virtually every other group of spiders it is the male Sydney funnel-web that is equipped with the most potent venom – up to six times stronger than that of the female. The venom itself is a neurotoxin which appears to be particularly effective against primates. Within minutes of being bitten the victim may suffer extreme symptoms such as muscle spasms, palpitations, vomiting, confusion and swelling of the brain. In some cases death has followed in as little as 15 minutes after the bite occurred.
The good news is an effective anti-venom was introduced in 1981 and there hasn’t been a death since.
Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria)
When a spider’s scientific name is derived from the Greek for murderess (Phoneutria) you can guess it’s going to be trouble and this is certainly the case for the wandering spiders. According to Guinness World Records the Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria fera) is officially the world’s most venomous spider. It is capable of injecting a powerful neurotoxin which is nearly 20 times more deadly that that of the Black Widow spider if it gets into the blood stream. That is as potent as the venom of many deadly snake species and the effects are similar. The symptoms of envenomation include a loss of muscle control leading to breathing problems which can result in complete respiratory paralysis and eventually asphyxiation.
But there are two other major side effects to the wandering spider’s bite; firstly there is intense pain and secondly, if you happen to be male there is the four hour hard on. Yes, you did read that correctly – the bite of the Brazilian wandering spider can cause an erection that lasts for several hours, unfortunately it is also painful.
In addition to the this deadly venom the behaviour of the wandering spider make it particularly dangerous to humans. As its name suggests the spiders are not confined to a web in a dark corner. In fact they like to turn up in all manner of hiding places; boots, piles of clothes, log piles, cars and bunches of bananas. Also known as ‘banana spiders’ wandering spiders have been known to hitch a ride across the globe in boxes of bananas. In one case a man in the UK was bitten after buying bananas in his local supermarket.
There is little doubt that these are dangerous spiders. Their aggressive nature and close contact with humans have resulted in a number of deaths over the years. In one tragic case a single spider was responsible for the deaths of two children in São Paulo. Fortunately an effective antivenom has been developed and there have been relatively few fatalities since.
Eating Insects in a Survival Emergency
1. Crickets/Grasshoppers
Edible crickets and edible grasshoppers - - Crickets and grasshoppers provide abundant calcium. The easy to catch insect also contains 20.6 grams of protein for every 100 grams of insect that you consume.
Most of the nutritional value of crickets and grasshoppers comes from the torso area. Although the legs and wings do not possess much nutritional value, you might want to consider mixing the parts in with the torso to add a crunch to each bite that you take. The crunch effect makes consuming the insects more palatable, which means you should pull the legs and wings off.
You can consume crickets and grasshoppers either raw or cooked. Crickets live under rocks, boulders, and large logs that sit near meadows and fertile pastures.
The nocturnal insect's cousin the grasshopper prefers more arid and open living environments like meadows and fields, where ever grass is plentiful.
2. Locusts
Edible locusts - Similar to crickets and grasshoppers, locusts also contain rich amounts of calcium and protein. The primary difference between locust and their insect cousins involves size and the fact that locusts travel in swarms, which makes it easy to build a large inventory of locusts for surviving prolonged emergencies.
In many parts of the world, locusts comprise a diet and nutritional staple. Residents of Sub-Sahara Africa sweep swarms of locusts into bags. Locusts migrate all over the world, mostly between regions that have fertile soil to grow plants and trees
3. Ants
Edible ants - The hardest working insect repulses many people for consumption, but ants are easy to find and capture. Some ants, such as fire ants, bite and thus, don't make good food sources.
To catch and round up ants, dig into an anthill and use a large scoop or scoop-like device to push the ants into a container.
Most survival experts recommend boiling ants, but before doing so, you need to shake the container to remove any dirt and mud clinging to any ants. Eating ants raw creates a bitter vinegar taste that boiling in water removes.
Three and a half ounces of red ants produces 14 grams of protein and 5.7 milligrams of iron. The 5.7 milligrams of iron represents about 71 percent of what men require each day.
Women receive more than 33% of their iron needs from a 3.5-ounce serving of red ants.
4. June Bugs
Edible beetles - As a common insect species, June bugs are beetles (Phyllophaga is the technical name for this genus of beetles) and thrive in arid climates, such as climates found in Denver, Santa Fe, and Phoenix, but beetles themselves can be found in many regions. Depending on where you live, you may have come across these for several years, thought they were simply beetles, but now you have a specific name for this species of insect, June bugs.
This slow moving insect requires little effort to catch and the reward is a tasty snack or meal after grilling or slow boiling the insects over a fire. Sometimes June bugs hardly move at all.
You find June bugs on plants during the late evening hours and under plants and along the forest floor during the day. At 13.4 grams of protein per 100 grams of June bug consumption, you receive an ample amount of protein as they are found and consumed.
5. Caterpillars
Edible caterpillars - A hairy insect doesn't seem an epicurean delight, but caterpillars contain high levels of iron, niacin, protein, thiamine, and B vitamins. Some types of caterpillars are not fit for consumption and we discuss the common traits to look for in unhealthy insects at the end of this article. Many survival experts suggest frying caterpillars to harden the crunch. The low moving and easy to catch insect also goes down gullet raw.
In some parts of the world, some types of caterpillars are a rich food source. However, please note, that some caterpillars are toxic to humans, and to rely on caterpillars as a food source in a survival emergency, please seek out more specific instruction for caterpillars in your region
6. Scorpions
Edible scorpions - Found in the desert regions of the American southwest and open, rugged frontier across states such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of California, scorpions are the quintessential insect to raise and harvest for later consumption.
Search for small holes under rocks, trees, and tree limbs. To avoid the painful scorpion sting, use a glass bottle and push the scorpion into the bottle. Cooking scorpions involves skewering the large insect and holding the skewer over an open fire.
Because of a high concentration of protein, several body building supplement products use scorpion extract to enhance protein content. Since scorpions live in rocky environments, you also benefit from a strong source of minerals, such as iron and magnesium.
7. Termites
Edible termites - Your body needs protein to build and repair skin, bones, muscles, and most important blood oxygen, and termites are rich in protein.
If you can find a termite mound, you may be able to feed several people at just one sitting.
During any prolonged emergency, you can expect your body to undergo considerable duress. Termites come to the rescue, because the oft-maligned insect contains an abundant 14.4 grams of protein for every 100 grams of termites that you consume. Anyone that has been the recipient of termite destruction knows where to look for the body-repairing insect. Termites flourish within downed trees, as well as decaying stumps and logs.
You have to eat a large amount of the tiny insect to enjoy the protein benefits, but termites typically are found in hordes. Termites live in damp climates in regions such as thick forests and coastal areas. Many natives to termite country eat the insects raw to obtain the highest nutritional value.
8. Snails
Edible snails - No, you don't need a slab of butter, cup of white wine and a few shallots to enjoy what the French call escargot.
Snails tend to consume toxic fungi and vegetation, so the best way to consume the easy to catch Gastropod is by steaming the entire shell and then removing the tender body from the shell. Harvesting snails only requires a container that contains the traditional grain feed that snails like. The snail population explodes during the spring, when food sources rapidly multiply.
One hundred grams of snails gets you over 16 grams of protein, which represents a protein number near the top of the insect consumption list. The same amount of snails provides 90 calories and about four milligrams of iron, which equals the iron produced from a six-ounce serving of beef.
9. Centipedes
Edible centipedes - Found throughout North America, centipedes are one of the most abundant forms of insects for consumption -- and they're typically easy to find. Especially after a steady rain, turn over a large log or rock and discover several centipedes scampering away. Remember that besides possessing fewer legs than millipedes, centipedes also differ from their leggy cousins by not emitting toxins. Since centipedes use pinchers to bite, the best way to consume the nutritious insects is by boiling or steaming them. A serving of 100 grams produces a healthy 160 calories and 36 grams of carbohydrates.
For survivalists that need a sudden burst of energy, centipedes should comprise one of the go to insects for consumption.
10. Cockroaches
Edible cockroaches - Stay away from cockroaches that swarm into dark spaces within your home -- we're talking about cockroaches found in the wild.
During an emergency, where you are nowhere near your home and there is no food available, be on the lookout for wilderness cockroaches that feast on highly nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables. Cockroaches love damp environments, especially those that bustle under the cover of darkness. The clean and delicious wilderness cockroach taste and feel like greasy chicken say many who have eaten them, but you must boil, fry, or sauté the insect to achieve the greasy chicken taste profile and definitely to kill any bacteria that may be present on a cockroach.
Adult cockroaches produce 23.80 milligrams of vitamin C and 48.16 milligrams of vitamin A. You also benefit from an incredible 65.60 grams of fiber by eating just 100 grams of cockroaches (which you'll get in just a handful).
11. Bees/Wasps
Edible bees and edible wasps - - As an elusive insect to capture, buzzing bees and wasps often zip in and out of view hundreds of yards from where their bustling nests hum, where bees are busy at work serving the hide.
Yet, the effort put into locating the home of bees and wasps is well worth the survival effort. Some survival experts suggest tying a thin, long silk thread to a captured bee or wasp and then follow the bee or wasp to its buzzing home. The way to drive bees and wasps away from the nest is to smoke them out. Once the bees and wasps flee, you have access to delicious and nutritional larvae. Smoking bee or wasp larvae for several hours represents the best way to ensure robust flavor, without diminishing the nutritional content of the edible insects. Bee pollen is replete in protein, folic acid, B-complex vitamins, and free amino acids
12. Earwigs
Edible earwigs - Many survivalists prepare earwigs the same way that they prepare termites. However, gardeners have found that a capture method makes the prefect food preparation method as well. You fill low-sided cans with about a half-inch of vegetable oil and set the cans on the ground, preferably near vegetation. Earwigs detect the presence of vegetables and move inside the cans, where they drown. The dead earwigs already have a coat of oil for frying or toasting. Stale beer works almost as effectively as vegetable oil. Earwigs offer a substantial source of protein and fiber, something that many survivalists lack by living days or even months outdoors.
13. Maggots
Edible maggotsRevolting as they are, maggots might be one of the few insects that you find during an emergency. Rotting animal corpses produce copious amounts of maggots and the fat content alone helps you survive food deprivation. Many cultures crave the superfood maggot to counter the long-term health detriments of consuming a lean beef diet. Maggots offer the protein and carbohydrates that survivalists need to sustain themselves both physically and mentally during an extended emergency.
14. Slugs
Edible slugs - Slugs possess many of the same nutritional benefits offered by their cousin, the ponderous snail. Rich in minerals that maintain healthy blood flow and oxygen, slugs also deliver the protein required to keep a brisk pace during survivor mode. Abundant during the rainy season in any North American climate, slugs require little effort to acquire. Simply look under damp vegetation and timber to find the slow moving insect.
Never eat slugs raw, as they contain a potentially harmful parasite that can kill you. Cook slugs thoroughly the same way that you prepare snails, except you don't have to remove the body from the shell.
15. Beetles
Edible beetles - Though we discussed June bugs earlier in the article, it's worth going into more detail on beetles as a whole as many are edible and easily found.
A giant water beetle produces around 20 grams of protein on just a 3.5-ounce serving of the crunchy insect. One 3.5-ounce serving of the palm worm beetle generates almost 14 grams of protein. Beetles of all species supply you with more than enough iron, zinc, and calcium to thrive during a prolong stint living in the wild.
You can find beetles in the same places that you find many of the other edible insects on this list: under fallen tree limbs and other timber that sit in damp conditions. To cook beetles properly, skewer the insects on a shaved stick and slowly roast the bugs over an open fire. Many survivalist experts recommend crushing the bodies and sprinkling the insect over other types of food.
World’s Most Dangerous Fish
Puffer
The puffer, which is also called swellfish, or blowfish, is any member of a group of about 90 species of fishes of the family Tetraodontidae, noted for their ability when disturbed to inflate themselves so greatly with air and water that they become globular in form. Puffers are found in warm and temperate regions around the world, primarily in the sea but also, in some instances, in brackish or fresh water. They have tough, usually prickly skins and fused teeth that form a beaklike structure with a split in the center of each jaw. The largest puffers grow about 90 cm (3 feet) long but most are considerably smaller.
Many species are poisonous; a highly toxic substance, tetraodontoxin, is especially concentrated in the internal organs. Although this substance can cause death, puffers are sometimes used as food. In Japan, where the fishes are called fugu, they must be carefully cleaned and prepared by a specially trained chef.
Red Lionfish
Lionfishes (Pterois) make up any of several species of showy Indo-Pacific fishes of the scorpion fish family, Scorpaenidae (order Scorpaeniformes). They are noted for their venomous fin spines, which are capable of producing painful, though rarely fatal, puncture wounds. The fishes have enlarged pectoral fins and elongated dorsal fin spines, and each species bears a particular pattern of bold, zebralike stripes. When disturbed, the fish spread and display their fins and, if further pressed, will present and attack with the dorsal spines. One of the best-known species is the red lionfish (Pterois volitans), an impressive fish sometimes kept by fish fanciers. It is striped with red, brown, and white and grows to about 30 cm (12 inches) long. The red lionfish is native to South Pacific reef ecosystems. In the early 21st century the species became established in reef ecosystems along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea. Its rapid rate of reproduction, combined with the absence of natural enemies in those regions, resulted in its decimation of local reef fishes and its designation as an invasive species. Wildlife managers suspect that lionfish were deliberately released by pet owners into the ocean along Florida’s Atlantic coast starting in the 1980s, but damage to pet stores caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 may have also allowed others to escape.
Candiru
The candiru, (Vandellia cirrhosa), is a scaleless, parasitic catfish of the family Trichomycteridae found in the Amazon River region. It is translucent and eellike, and it grows to a length of about 2.5 cm (1 inch). The candiru feeds on blood and is commonly found in the gill cavities of other fishes. It sometimes also attacks humans and has been known to enter the urethras of bathers and swimming animals. Once in the passage, it erects the short spines on its gill covers and may thereby cause inflammation, hemorrhage, and even death to the victim.
Great White Shark
The white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), which is also called great white shark or white pointer, may be the fish that needs no introduction, because it is one of the most powerful and potentially dangerous predatory sharks in the world. Starring as the villain of movies such as Jaws (1975), the white shark is much maligned and publicly feared; however, surprisingly little is understood of its life and behavior. According to the fossil record, the modern species has been around since roughly 18–12 million years ago, during the middle of the Miocene Epoch, but its ancestors may date back to at least the Eocene Epoch (about 56–34 million years ago).
In the areas where they are most common, white sharks are responsible for numerous unprovoked, and sometimes fatal, attacks on swimmers, divers, surfers, kayakers, and even small boats. A white shark tends to inflict a single bite on its human victim and then retreat. In many instances, however, the shark rarely returns for a second bite. If the victim suffers a moderate bite, he or she may have time to seek safety. In situations where a large bite occurs, however, serious tissue and organ damage may result in the death of the victim. A review of white shark attacks off the western United States showed that about 7 percent of attacks were fatal, but data from other localities, such as South Africa, show fatality rates of more than 20 percent. Fatality rates as high as 60 percent have been recorded from attacks in the waters off Australia.
Many researchers maintain that attacks on humans stem from the shark’s curiosity. In contrast, other authorities contend that these attacks may be the result of the shark mistaking humans for its natural prey, such as seals and sea lions. It is also possible that white sharks intend to attack humans where their normal prey may be scarce.
Moray Eel
There are probably more than 80 species moray eels, and they occur in all tropical and subtropical seas, where they live in shallow water among reefs and rocks and hide in crevices. Moray eels differ from other eels in having small rounded gill openings and in generally lacking pectoral fins. Their skin is thick, smooth, and scaleless, while the mouth is wide and the jaws are equipped with strong, sharp teeth, which enable them to seize and hold their prey (chiefly other fishes) but also to inflict serious wounds on their enemies, including humans. They are apt to attack humans only when disturbed, but then they can be quite vicious.
Moray eels are usually vividly marked or colored. They generally do not exceed a length of about 1.5 meters (5 feet), but one species, Thyrsoidea macrurus of the Pacific, is known to grow about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long. Morays are eaten in some areas of the world, but their flesh is sometimes toxic and can cause illness or death. One species of moray, Muraena helena, found in the Mediterranean, was a great delicacy of the ancient Romans and was cultivated by them in seaside ponds.
Tigerfish
Spanning several species, tigerfishes are so named on the basis of their pugnacity when caught, their fiercely predaceous habits, or their appearance. In African freshwaters, tigerfishes of the genus Hydrocynus (sometimes Hydrocyon) are admired game fishes of the characin family, Characidae (order Cypriniformes). They are marked, depending on the species, with one or several dark, lengthwise stripes and are swift, voracious, salmon-shaped carnivores with daggerlike teeth that protrude when the mouth is closed. There are about five species; the largest (H. goliath) may be more than 1.8 meters (6 feet) long and may weigh more than 57 kg (125 pounds). The smaller H. vittatus is claimed to be one of the finest game fishes in the world.
In the Indo-Pacific, marine and freshwater tigerfishes of the family Theraponidae (order Perciformes) are rather small and usually marked with bold stripes. The three-striped tigerfish (Therapon jarbua) is a common, vertically striped species about 30 cm (12 inches) long. It has sharp spines on its gill covers, which can wound a careless handler.
Piranha
Piranha, also called caribe or piraya, are any of more than 60 species of razor-toothed carnivorous fish of South American rivers and lakes, with a somewhat exaggerated reputation for ferocity. In movies such as Piranha (1978), the piranha has been depicted as a ravenous indiscriminate killer. Most species, however, are scavengers or feed on plant material.
Most species of piranha never grow larger than 60 cm (2 feet) long. Colors vary from silvery with orange undersides to almost completely black. These common fishes have deep bodies, saw-edged bellies, and large, generally blunt heads with strong jaws bearing sharp, triangular teeth that meet in a scissorlike bite.
Piranhas range from northern Argentina to Colombia, but they are most diverse in the Amazon River, where 20 different species are found. The most infamous is the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), with the strongest jaws and sharpest teeth of all. Especially during low water, this species, which can grow up to 50 cm (about 20 inches) in length, hunts in groups that can number more than 100. Several groups can converge in a feeding frenzy if a large animal is attacked, although this is rare. Red-bellied piranhas prefer prey that is only slightly larger than themselves or smaller. Generally, a group of red-bellied piranhas spreads out to look for prey. When located, the attacking scout signals the others. This is probably done acoustically, as piranhas have excellent hearing. Everyone in the group rushes in to take a bite and then swims away to make way for the others.
The lobetoothed piranha (P. denticulate), which is found primarily in the basin of the Orinoco River and the tributaries of the lower Amazon, and the San Francisco piranha (P. piraya), a species native to the San Francisco River in Brazil, are also dangerous to humans. Most species of piranhas, however, never kill large animals, and piranha attacks on people are rare. Although piranhas are attracted to the smell of blood, most species scavenge more than they kill. Some 12 species called wimple piranhas (genus Catoprion) survive solely on morsels nipped from the fins and scales of other fishes, which then swim free to heal completely.
Stonefish
Stonefish are venomous marine fish classified in the genus Synanceja and the family Synancejidae, found in shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific. They are sluggish, bottom-dwelling fish that live among rocks or coral and in mud flats and estuaries. Thickset fish with large heads and mouths, small eyes, and bumpy skins covered with wartlike lumps and, sometimes, fleshy flaps, they rest on the bottom, unmoving, blending almost exactly with their surroundings in form and color. They are dangerous fish. Difficult to see, they can, when stepped on, inject quantities of venom through grooves in their dorsal-fin spines. Wounds produced by these fish are intensely painful and sometimes fatal. The family Synancejidae includes a few other species of robust, warty fish. They are also venomous, though not as notorious as the stonefish.
Atlantic Manta
Manta rays or devil rays make up several genera of marine rays comprising the family Mobulidae (class Selachii). Flattened and wider than they are long, manta rays have fleshy enlarged pectoral fins that look like wings; extensions of those fins, looking like a devil’s horns, project as the cephalic fins from the front of the head. Manta rays have short whiplike tails provided, in some species, with one or more stinging spines.
Manta rays, related to sharks and skates, are found in warm waters along continents and islands. They swim at or near the surface, propelling themselves by flapping their pectoral fins and, at times, leaping or somersaulting out of the water. They feed on plankton and small fishes that they sweep into their mouths with their cephalic fins.
The smallest of the manta rays, the species Mobula diabolis of Australia, grows to no more than 60 cm (2 feet) across, but the Atlantic manta, or giant devil ray (Manta birostris), the largest of the family, may grow to more than 7 meters (23 feet) wide. The Atlantic manta is a well-known species, brown or black in color and very powerful but inoffensive. It does not, old tales to the contrary, envelop pearl divers and devour them.
Electric Eel
The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is an elongated South American fish that produces a powerful electric shock to stun its prey, usually other fish. Long, cylindrical, scaleless, and usually gray-brown (sometimes with a red underside), the electric eel can grow to 2.75 meters (9 feet) and weigh 22 kg (48.5 pounds). The tail region constitutes about four-fifths of the electric eel’s total length, which is bordered along the underside by an undulating anal fin that is used to propel the fish. Despite its name, it is not a true eel but is related to the characin fish, which include piranhas and neon tetras. The electric eel is one of the principal aquatic predators of the whitewater flooded forest known as varzea. In one fish survey of a typical varzea, electric eels made up more than 70 percent of the fish biomass. The electric eel is a sluggish creature that prefers slow-moving fresh water, where it surfaces every few minutes to gulp air. The mouth of the electric eel is rich with blood vessels that allow it to use the mouth as a lung.
The electric eel’s penchant for shocking its prey may have evolved to protect its sensitive mouth from injury from struggling, often spiny, fish. The shocked prey is stunned long enough to be sucked through the mouth directly to the stomach. Sometimes the electric eel does not bother to stun prey but simply gulps faster than the prey can react. The eel’s electrical discharges may be used to keep prey from escaping or induce a twitching response in hidden prey that causes the prey to reveal its position.
The tail region contains the electric organs, which are derived from muscle tissue enervated by spinal nerves, and discharges 300–650 volts—a charge powerful enough to jolt humans. These organs may also be used to help the creature navigate and to communicate with other electric eels.
How to navigate
Look for moss; it usually grows on the north (i.e., least sunny) side of trees and rocks—or at least, grows most plentifully there.
Look for spider webs, which tend to appear on the south sides of trees.
Put a stick in the ground vertically, and note where the end of its shadow is. Wait a little while, and mark where the end is now. The line going between those two points should run approximately east–west; you can then tell by the direction of the sun’s movement which way is north.
Watch the sun, which rises (more or less) in the east and sets (more or less) in the west. But since the exact position of the sun varies by season and latitude, this is rather inaccurate.
In the northern hemisphere, if it’s night and the sky is clear, you can usually pick out the north star (Polaris) as the brightest one in the handle of the Little Dipper. If you’re facing that star, you’re pointing north.
In the southern hemisphere, find the Southern Cross. Note the direction of the long axis of the cross. Follow that imaginary line for a distance equal to five times the length of the cross and fact the point in space where it would end. You’re now facing directly south; spin around 180° to find north.
Hold an analog watch horizontally. In the northern hemisphere, point the hour hand toward the sun; in the southern hemisphere, point the 12 toward the sun. Either way, the north-south line runs halfway between the hour hand and the 12 (or 1, if Daylight Saving Time is in effect). To figure out which is which, note the sun’s direction of movement, or assume that the sun is in the southern half of the sky.
Note the direction in which the clouds move, which is generally west-to-east. (This can provide only a very rough approximation at best, and doesn’t work everywhere.)
If you’re in a part of the world where Traveler’s Palms grow, find one. Chances are the axis of the branches runs east-west; as usual, determine north from the direction of the sun or assume it’s in the southern part of the sky.
If you’re near a body of water where birds, fish, or amphibians are breeding, keep in mind that they often prefer to breed on the west side.
Use a compass. (You did bring a compass, right?)
Make a compass by carefully floating a magnetized needle on the surface of water that’s sitting in a very still container. (You did bring a needle, right?)
Use a GPS receiver. It’ll probably tell you the direction you’re facing without any effort, but even if it lacks an electronic compass (or the compass isn’t working), you can work out which way is north by taking two or more readings some distance apart and doing some very simple geometry. (You do remember your geometry, right?)
Using Time
Hold an analog watch so the face is level with the ground. You need to have a watch with hour hands, not a digital face to use it. You also need to know your watch is working and set to the correct time.
Note: You should only use this method between 40 and 60 degrees north or south of the equator. The closer you are in proximity to the equator, the less accurate this method will be.
If you have a digital watch, you can simply draw a circle on the ground with a stick. You can use this to represent the watch.
Point the hour hand at the sun. Turn your body while holding the watch until hour hand is pointing in the direction of the sun.
If you are in the southern hemisphere, point the twelve on your watch in the direction of the sun.
If you are drawing the "watch" on the ground, draw a line in the direction of the sun. This will represent the hour hand, or it will represent the twelve in the southern hemisphere. Draw another line to indicate approximately where the other hand on the watch would be according to the current time. In the northern hemisphere, you would draw a line to the 12. In the southern hemisphere, you would draw the second line toward the current hour.
Study your watch. Find the midway point between the hour hand and the number twelve on your watch. If you are in the northern hemisphere this line points south. If you are in the southern hemisphere, this line points north.
wild edibles you need to know
Cattails
If you want to know about high-quality edibles you should immediately look for cattails. Also referred to as bulrush or reedmace depending on where you live, these plants are incredibly useful in a survival situation. They can commonly be found in wetlands and surrounding freshwater. This doesn't mean just swamps -- throughout almost all of Canada and nearly all 50 U.S. states you can find cattails in large clumps by freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Acorns
There are many different nuts that can be found out in the wild, but they're generally not the ones that you will find on your local grocery store's shelves. Unless you stumble upon a pecan, peanut, or almond farm, you're generally not going to find these in the wild. Acorns, on the other hand, can be found wherever you can find mature oak trees.
Japanese Knotweed
While this might seem strange considering this is an article for edibles in the United States and Canada, Japanese Knotweed is an invasive species that has thrived throughout large regions of both nations, making it relatively easy to find in many forested ecosystems. In Canada Japanese Knotweed can be found from Ontario to British Columbia, while it can be found throughout the northeast of the United States all the way through the Midwest, South, and parts of the West. Japanese Knotweed has many similarities to bamboo when you look at the stems of the plant.
To find Japanese Knotweed you want to look for fresh water sources like streams and ponds, and then look for non-shady areas getting a lot of sun.
Hickory Nuts
Hickory nuts take more of an effort to get strong sustenance out of, but if you are in one of the many wooded areas that have hickory trees, you want to keep an eye out for these nuts.
While hickory trees can be found over a wide spread area in North America, they are more common east of the Mississippi River, or in the states on the west side of the river directly bordering the Mighty Mississippi. Hickory trees can also be found in California and Arizona, and the provinces of Ontario and all other Canadian provinces east
Wild Asparagus
Many outdoor people have walked right by wild asparagus without even realizing it. Wild asparagus looks similar to the asparagus you see in the grocery store, except it is going to be much narrower and generally much taller/longer than what you get out of the store.
Wild asparagus can be found in many different environments from heavy grass fields to surrounding trees or fence posts and in fact are found in every single state and Canadian province, as well as through most of Mexico.
Yard Plantain
Not to be mistaken for the tiny banana-like tropical fruit, yard plantains (Plantago ruglii) are an extremely common weed that quite possibly might even be in your yard before you mow the lawn -- especially if you live in the country. This is a yard and field weed that is extremely easy to identify based on its distinctive moderate sized leaves that point out in every direction from the stems at the center base of the plant.
Leaves can grow as large as six inches long and four inches wide, looking in some ways like a slightly wilder or stringier version of spinach.
Yard plantains are most commonly found through the Midwestern and eastern United States and eastern Canada.
Black Walnut
Wild black walnuts offer an exceptional food source for foraging. Black walnuts can be found throughout a large number of northern states, alpine regions, and Canadian provinces. Black walnuts are easy to identify due to the often yellow to greenish shell around the nut meat. If you are finding them later in the season, the outer shells might be darker.
You will want a rock or else whatever survival tool you have on yourself to crack through the outer shell, but black walnut nut meat is worth it. These are 173 calories an ounce and come with a great combination of protein, fat, and other minerals. Their rich taste is also a great change of pace for your stomach compared to the often leafy and bitter taste of other foraging foods.
The one big thing to watch out for is mold. If you see any sign of mold within the shells, toss the walnut away and only stick to the ones that won't make you sick. This is an especially good food source to look for if you are very high up north of where many other common edible plants grow.
Pine Nuts
Although pine trees aren't nearly as common in the south as they are up north and in alpine country, pine nuts are a God send for foraging wild edibles.
Pine nuts can be found on any pine cone that hasn't already been raided by one of nature's many animals who also use pine nuts as a source of food. Although it takes some time to gather, they are far easier to get a hold of than walnuts, acorns, or hickory nuts, and pine nuts come in at 172 calories an ounce. This is a very good number for forage related food.
In addition to this, pine nuts as an edible are also high in carbs, protein, and fat, giving you the full trifecta of necessary nutrients to have energy to survive in the wild. Pine nuts are a very good source of food.
Clovers
Clovers might not be giants when it comes to edible natural calories or adding in any fat or protein, but they make the list because they are absolutely everywhere. There are several different species of clovers, but the little plants with three leaves (or four if you're lucky like the Irish).
If you can find a large open grassy area, chances are overwhelming you'll see groups of clovers fixed in. These are among the easiest of plants to spot, and are widely found throughout temperate areas in Canada and the United States. Basically anywhere that isn't tundra or desert.
These are among the easiest of plants to spot, and while you can eat them raw you are going to be a lot happier if you have the ability to boil them (think more of a boiled spinach).
Dandelions
Dandelions might be annoying weeds to homeowners who love the idea of a perfect green grass lawn, but these "weeds" are extremely useful out in the wilderness. While you likely won't have a still to make dandelion wine, you'll be glad to know that this is one of the few weeds that is entirely edible. The leaves, seeds, flower, and roots: all of it can give you much needed calories. This is another plant where the leaves are better in spring and early summer as they tend to get more bitter throughout the year, but you can boil them, as well.
Dandelions also have the added benefit of making a good tea. So unlike water used to treat acorn mash, or boil out bitterness in other greens, the water used on dandelions can still be drank as a tea to help keep you hydrated.
When searching for dandelions be sure to look for open areas such as fields, grassland, but they can also often be found in woods where a decent amount of sunlight still hits the ground. Dandelions are found in all 50 U.S. states and most Canadian provinces.
Purslane
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a weed that can be found throughout a myriad of temperate climates. These plants have thick leaves and are very good and holding moisture which allows them to be found in soil that is hot, dry, and hostile to many other types of plant life. Purslane is found throughout the United States and Canada.
Purslane has decent calories for a green weed, but where it really gets a reputation is being one of the only known plants to have Omega-3 fatty acids. This is a huge boost to your brain and body in any survival situation. Once you get used to looking for this weed, you should be able to find it anywhere.
You're looking for smooth fat leaves that have a slightly sour taste that isn't unpleasant. They can be eaten raw or if you really hate sour taste, you can boil the leaves to remove that flavor without hurting the Omega-3 fatty acids or other benefits this forager-friendly plant has to offer you.
If you're in an environment that is hot with questionable soil, then Purslane is a great weed to look for since it might be one of the best wild edibles available.
Fireweed
Fireweed has distinctive purple flowers that make it stick out from other plants. Aside from the flower, the veins in a fireweed's leaves are circular instead of the much more common design of just running off to the end of the leaf. A good chunk of fireweed is edible.
The leaves are edible, although best when young instead of mature, as well as the stalk, seeds, and flowers.
The flowers have a very distinctive pepper taste to them and this edible is a strong source for several important vitamins, and can be a great mix with some other local greens. It's not the highest in calories, but the vitamins make it a good add to any wildly foraged salad.
Fireweed is found through most of the United States, though is notably absent from Texas and the Southeast. It is found intermittently and seemingly randomly throughout multiple Canadian provinces, as well.
Chicory
Chicory can be found in three different continents, including throughout a good chunk of North America. This is a plant best known for its combination of small blue, white, and lavender flowers.
Although these are often the easiest way to identify chicory, this bushy plant is fully edible. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, though you will want to clean the roots and boil them before proceeding. As with many wild edible plants, the leaves from a chicory plant can become bitter as they mature and taste better (less bitterness) if you boil them first.
If you go this route you can drink the water afterwards since you're not draining out anything unhealthy, you're merely altering the taste. Chicory thrives in temperate climates but can be found throughout all but the absolute most extreme of climates.
Wild Alliums
Ideally if you don't have any experience with wild alliums (onion, leeks, shallots, chives, garlic, etc) then you won't have to resort to these as they can be a little bit trickier. The most important thing for whatever wild alliums are in your area is that ones with a very strong onion or very strong garlic smell will be edible. Those will be safe and provide much needed calories. If you can barely get that smell or you're just not sure, don't eat them. In some areas there are some similar looking plants that are poisonous, but they don't have any garlic or onion smell. That's the most sure fire way to tell them apart.
Remember that when you clearly find excellent fragrant alliums you can eat all parts of the plant to get some much needed calories, but be sure to be careful. Wild onions and garlic can be powerful -- and eating too much at once has the potential to really upset your stomach.
These plants are found in every state east of the Mississippi River along with Ontario and Quebec. A few states west of the river like Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, and the Pacific coast states and provinces all have these wild edible plants, as well.
Beech Nuts
Beech nuts are a little bit more limited in where you find them. Beech trees are most common in eastern woodlands up through the United States and even up into eastern Canada.
Beech trees have a distinctive smooth bark that makes them easy to spot from a distance. Once you find a cluster of these trees, you're looking for small three-sided seeds. These are most common in the fall ranging from late September through October. This makes them limited and seasonal, but they are an excellent food source with a large number of calories, and a good mixture of carbs and protein to keep you going.
Poisonous Animals in the World
Puffer Fish
Puffer fish may be cute, but they are also quite dangerous. Most puffer fish swim in the waters surrounding Japan, China, and the Philippines, as well as Mexico. Puffer fish, despite being venomous, are also edible when prepared properly following food safety measures. Being as preparing the dish incorrectly can lead to food poisoning and consequent death, properly prepared dishes are considered a delicacy, and can sell for quite a bit of money. Expect to pay as much as $200 to try a dish!
The puffer fish’s skin, muscle tissue, liver, and gonads all contain a toxin known as tetrodoxin. If you are so unfortunate as to consume this toxin, you will experience a tingling sensation, burning in your mouth, nausea, headache, and speech and coordination problems. If you ingest too much, you will experience convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death.
Poison Dart Frog
Another deceptively cute animal, the poison dart frog is small and brightly patterned. Typically it lives in South and Central America or Hawaii. The poison the dart frog’s glands contain is called batrachotoxin. This toxin blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death.
Inland Taipan
Many snakes are poisonous, but the inland taipan is among the most deadly on the planet. The inland taipan lives in Australia and has a neurotoxin in its venom which is capable of killing a person within 45 minutes. Thankfully, the inland taipan’s bite can readily be treated. Amazingly enough, there are no reported deaths caused by this snake.
Brazilian Wandering Spider
This spider is also known as a “banana spider.” It is regularly confused with the golden silk orb-weaver, because that species of spider has bright yellow coloration and is also often colloquially (and incorrectly) referred to as a “banana spider.” Golden orb spiders are relatively harmless, despite their frightening appearance. Brazilian wandering spiders on the other hand are decidedly not. They were rated as the most venomous animal on the planet by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007. The high dosage of serotonin in the Brazilian wandering spider’s venom is extremely painful. The neurotoxins present can cause paralysis and death.
Stonefish
Divers should be wary of this venomous fish, which disguises itself with its camouflaged appearance and can easily blend in with rocks on the seabed. Usually the stonefish is found lurking above the Tropic of Capricorn. The spines on the fish’s back carry a toxin that can cause swelling, necrosis of tissue, paralysis, shock, and ultimately death. While the toxin is treatable, treatment must take place immediately. Being as that is generally challenging or impossible when one takes in a toxin while swimming along the ocean floor, the stonefish is quite deadly. If possible, the victim should immerse the wound site in hot water while traveling to the nearest hospital.
Death Stalker Scorpion
This scorpion is pale yellow in color and translucent in appearance and usually found in the Middle East and North Africa. While it may look delicate and ephemeral, the threat posed by this scorpion is quite substantial. Venom from a death stalker scorpion can cause a good deal of pain as well as respiratory failure. Those with heart problems or allergies are particularly likely to die from a sting.
Blue-Ringed Octopus
This tiny octopus is about the size of a golf ball, and could easily sit in the palm of your hand. Nonetheless, you definitely wouldn’t want it to, since it is quite nearly the most venomous animal in the sea. Blue-ringed octopi make their homes around Australia, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua, New Guinea. The venom from this animal can cause blindness, nausea, paralysis and respiratory failure, as well as death.
Marbled Cone Snail
This cone-shaped snail shell contains a creature which can deliver one seriously dangerous venom. Mild symptoms may include pain, inflammation, numbness, and tingling. If you get a high dose of venom, you will experience vision loss, respiratory failure, and muscle paralysis—and eventually death. There is no anti-venom available, so there is no way to treat the victim. Because of this, the marbled cone snail as rated as one of the most dangerous animals in the world
King Cobra
Cobras have a reputation for deadliness, and for good reason. They are typically found in the jungles of India and China. They are recognizable by their wide hoods, and are able to spit their toxins. The toxin is immensely painful, and once it enters the blood stream, it can cause death within a very short time. Seven ml of venom from this animal is enough to kill an elephant—or twenty human beings.
Box Jellyfish
This jellyfish is widely regarded as the most poisonous animal in the world. It floats in the waters surrounding Asia and Australia, and is so transparent that it is nearly invisible if you are not looking for it. The tentacles of the box jellyfish produce nematocysts. Once the toxin reaches the blood, blood pressure increases. This can lead to a heart attack, and ultimately death. If stung by one of these jellyfish, do not apply ice or heat. If you have some vinegar, try soaking the wound site for half an hour while you drive to the nearest hospital for aid.
Deadliest Insects In The World
Bullet Ant
Bullet ant is the largest of all ant families in the world. They mostly found in rainforests of Nicaragua and Paraguay. Bullet ants named after their painful sting. After the bite victim would feel like being shot. In fact, the sting by a bullet ant is 30 times more painful than of a wasp or a honey bee.
The one inch sized bullet ant also called as ’24-hour ant’ by locals. It is because one full day pain followed by its sting. Each bullet ant colonies contain hundreds of members. They usually make a nest at the base of large trees. Bullet ants also release unpleasant odor once they found any predator. If that trick won’t drive the predators away, they would attack together with the powerful sting.
Bot Fly
The larvae of botflies are internal parasites of mammals. Unfortunately, the dangerous larvae also live beneath human’s skin and cause horrible effects. The human bot flies mostly found across Central and South America. ‘Myiasis’ known parasite infestation makes severe changes in skin tissues.
The young female bot flies laid eggs within the skin of mammals. The larvae penetrate through skin and lives in subdermal zones of human skin for more than 60 days. The patients could feel the movement of larvae beneath their skin. Once larvae development gets complete it leaves out of the body.
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that suck blood from humans, birds, reptiles and wild and domestic animals. The fleas could cause itching spots on the skin of hosts. Fleas only have a size of the tip of a pen and reproduce very quickly. Every female flea lay 2000 eggs within their life span.
There are 2000 known species of flies in the world. Young fleas can consume volume of blood that over 15 times their own body weight. The flea bites on human body result in red bumps. They commonly found around waist, knees and elbows. The bite of fleas are very itchy and it may also lead to infection.
Fire Ants
There are 285 different species of fire ants in the world. Once disturbed, they would sting the intruder repeatedly. The fire ant sting is very painful also. A white pustule caused by fire ant sting last for weeks. Their venom also would cause several skin problems. Fire ants usually attack in the group that contain ten to hundreds of ants. The venom of fire ants also result in allergic reaction
Kissing Bug
Kissing bugs grow up by sucking blood of vertebrates. Kissing bugs named after their habit of biting the lip of human while they sleep . They also transmit parasite called as trypanosoma cruzi. The kissing bug disease or ‘changas’ kills 12000 people every year. The changa disease spread to animals and pets in the same way. The kissing bug bite result in instant changes within victim’s body such as welts and rashes.
Giant Japanese Hornet
Giant Japanese hornet is the largest species of hornet in the world. They grow up to a size of 2 inches. Every year up to 40 deaths is recorded by the sting of Japanese hornet. The venom of Japanese hornet would cause an allergic reaction and dissolve tissues within the short time. The repeated stinging from the group of hornets could also results in death.
Japanese hornets are very aggressive and fearless in nature. Each colony of Japanese hornet contains up to 700 members. They feed on honey bee larvae in large amount. They have the power to finish up to 40 honey bees in a minute.
Tsetse Flies
TseTse flies is a deadliest biting insect native to Africa. They mainly feed on the blood of vertebrates. The extreme dangerous insects inject powerful toxin on each string. It is estimated that about half a million people lost their life by the attack of tsetse flies in Africa. At the primary stage, the venom of tsetse flies would makes sleeping sickness on the victim. But it may lead to fatality without proper treatment.
Killer Bees
Killer bees also known as Africanized honey bees. It is one of the very aggressive and dominant insects in the world. The group of killer bees follow the victim for more than 1 miles. In normal case,a of killer bees consist of hundreds or thousands of members. They attacked in the group and make repetitive stinging.
The killer bees mainly target the face and eyes of humans. In fact, their toxin is not so dangerous but an attack by group of killer bees could cause even death. They live within large colonies that contain more than 80000 members. Once they get disturbed, the bees become alert for next 24 hours and would attack any animals or humans that come within their range.
Driver Ants
Driver ant has the largest colony than any other insects in the world. Each colony of driver ants have members up to 22 million. Even elephants would run away from the group attack of driver ants. They try to finish off any animal that comes across their path.
Driver ants normally kill thousands of different animals within a single raid. They make repetitive wounds on animals and humans using their strong mandibles. Driver ants also raid nests of other insects for food and kill them
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are most dangerous insect species on Earth. This deadliest insect causes 1 million death every year by transmitting dangerous malaria disease. Mosquitoes carry malaria germs from one place to another and they transmit germs into the blood of victim by biting. WHO estimated that in every 30 seconds a child dies due to malaria and 500 million cases of malaria reported every year.
Actually malaria is a blood transmitting disease. This disease won’t affect by contact with the sick person. It transmitted through parasites, mainly by bites of mosquitoes. In addition to malaria mosquitoes also spreads dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis and west Nile virus.
Bag Shelter Processionary Caterpillar
Found: Brazil, Australia. They have bristles, attached to venom glands for defense, so when touched, can leave an irritating skin rash. An allergic reaction may cause anaphylactic shock which may lead to death.
Lonomia Caterpillar (Assassin Caterpillar)
Found: South America, Brazil. Lonomia Caterpillar is the world’s most deadliest Caterpillar. Lonomia caterpillar is just as frail as any other caterpillars you might have seen, but that doesn’t stop it from causing severe serious internal hemorrhaging and even death, if you just touch it (brush pass it). Its venom is a very powerful anticoagulant venom. Even though seen in an isolated area, the rain forests of South America it causes a few deaths every year. Symptoms of Lonomia obliqua poisoning include severe internal bleeding (including brain bleeding), renal failure and hemolysis.
Parotostigmus Scabricauda Centipede
Found: South America. Although not technically an insect, I think it deserves a mention among the undergrowth creatures. Parotostigmus scabricauda is the most venomous centipede species. Its sting usually causes itching, painful swelling on skin and allergic reaction. In some cases, kidney failure and cardiac arrest may happen, leading to death.
Giant centipede
Scolopendra
Centipedes are predatory arthropods, possessing a specialized pair of first appendages (forcipules) tipped with venom-injecting claws, immediately behind the mouthparts. Large members of the Scolopendra genus may even be dangerous to humans. However, humans are rarely bitten, because of the centipedes' generally secretive lifestyle. The bite is intensely painful, accompanied by substantial local swelling. Other symptoms include fever and nausea. There are even a few fatal cases attributed to scolopendras, but these are the result of unusually unfortunate circumstances, such as a bite to the esophagus.
Basic information:
Phylum - arthropods (Arthropoda)
Class - centipede (Chilopoda)
Maximum length - 30 cm
Food - invertebrates, small vertebrates
Distribution - tropical and subtropical areas all over the world
Type of poison – complex mix of various organic chemicals
Distinguishing marks:
Large centipedes, with body divided into head and segmented trunk. Color is variable, but generally yellow to brown. The head may be colored differently from the rest of the body. Each body segment carries one pair of legs.
How to navigate using Plants
The sun and stars are the best known methods for using nature to point the way. These shining signs are integral to natural navigation and do offer the most accurate clues to direction. However, the art becomes more challenging and, for a lot of people, more fascinating when we look closer to the ground.
On the ground we are looking for clues to how the elements, including the sun, have changed our environment and then using this evidence to gain an idea about direction. A great place to start is by looking at the trees.
Trees are never symmetrical and tend to be 'heavier' on one side.
There are three main methods for using the trees to find your way. We can look for how the tree’s growth is influenced by the sun and how their shape is altered by the wind. The third method is to use a tree's preferences to work out the nature of the terrain ahead of us.
The first two methods, using the sun or the wind, are the best ways to find direction.
Let’s start by considering the sun’s effect. In northern parts of the world the sun spends most of its time in the southern part of the sky. Trees, like all green plants, need the sun to survive and thrive and so they reflect the sun’s arc in the way they grow. This leads to trees growing asymmetrically (a huge amount of natural navigation is about looking for asymmetries in nature) and no two sides of a tree will be identical. The side that gets the most sun, the southern side in the UK, will grow more densely and appear ‘heavier’ than the side that is shaded by the trees’ own leaves. This effect is easiest to spot in isolated deciduous trees, a big lone oak in a field will usually demonstrate this quite well. Trees in woodland are competing with each other with sunlight and so the effects become confused.
One trap that many fall into is to look at a tree from only one angle and then wonder why it is not offering up its secrets. Each tree changes in appearance as you walk around it and so it is important to make a couple of circuits of a tree whenever possible.
The sun also shapes individual branches. The branches on the southern side tend to grow more horizontally, out towards the sun, whereas the shaded northern branches tend to grow up, closer to vertical, in their search for more sunlight. This leads to what I call the ‘Tick Effect’ when the tree is viewed from west to east. It is often hard to spot, but very satisfying when you do.
The tops of exposed trees are often combed by the prevailing wind.
The wind can blow from any direction, but there are trends and it is these trends that are useful to natural navigators. In the UK the prevailing wind is from the southwest, which means that the tops of exposed trees often show a combing from southwest to northeast. This is easiest to spot when you look at very exposed trees, but with practice the effect can often be spotted in more sheltered areas, and occasionally even in towns.
The third method means using a tree's preferences to work out the nature of the terrain ahead of us. It is easy to find a river, for example, if we know to look for a line willows or alders. Soft rush, juncus effusus, is a great plant for indicating wet ground. In the picture below you can see the rushes revealing the areas of water-logged ground.
With practice every single tree, shrub and wild flower can reveal something about direction and the terrain around you.
Navigating by the Sun
Use the sun. If it's in the afternoon the sun will be setting so it will be, more or less, in the west. If it is still morning then it will be rising roughly in the east. You can then figure out the approximate directions of north and south as well.
During midday it can be more difficult to determine which way the sun is moving, so you may need to work a little harder.
Locate a flat, open area. Find a spot on the ground that is out of the shade. You will need direct sunlight in order to create a shadow.
If you can find a patch of dirt, use that area instead of grass. The grass may make it more difficult to see the shadow accurately and mark it.
Find a stick. It should be at least three feet tall. Push the stick into the ground so it stands vertically. Place a stone or another stick on the tip of the shadow of the vertical stick. Wait for half an hour.
Check the location of the shadow. After about 20 minutes check the movement of the shadow. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow will change in length.[3] Place another rock to mark the location of the tip of the shadow. You may want to repeat this step one more time if you have time to wait. Having more points of reference along your line will help you determine which direction you face more precisely.
Draw a line connecting the rocks. This line points east and west. The first tip of the shadow that was marked is always west, and the last tip that was marked is always east.Draw a perpendicular line through the first line and it will point north and south.
You can also place your left foot on the location of the first marker, and place your right foot on the second marker. The direction your body will be facing is north.
Navigating by the Stars
Look for the North Star. At night, in the northern hemisphere, look for Polaris. It is located in the handle of the Little Dipper. Looking at Polaris, you will be facing North. The North Star is always in the same direction in the night sky, so once you can easily find it you will always know which direction is north
At night, you can find the North Star using the Big Dipper as well. The Big Dipper is shaped like a ladle with a handle and a cup. Draw an imaginary line from the two stars that make up the right side, or the outside edge of the cup, of the Big Dipper. Draw it out several hand-lengths from the Big Dipper. The direction from the end of these hand-lengths is roughly true north.
As another way to find the North Star is to learn to identify the five stars that make the "W" shape in Cassiopeia. It is located directly above the North Star, on the opposite side of the Big Dipper.
In the southern hemisphere, you can find the Southern Cross constellation in the night sky to find south. T
Get two long sticks. One should be slightly longer than the other. If you can't locate Polaris, you can line up any star in the sky using the tips of two sticks You can track the motion of the star across the sky to find out which direction you are facing.
Find a flat, open area on the ground. You will need enough space to stand and place the sticks a couple feet apart. Be sure you pick a spot that has a good view of the night sky.
Push the sticks into the ground a few feet apart. Be sure both sticks are standing straight up.
Push the shorter stick in the ground first.
Line up a star in the sky.
Place the taller stick in the ground so the tip lines up in a straight line with the first stick and the star in the sky.
Check back after 15 or 20 minutes. Look over the tips of the sticks again and note the changed location of the star.
If the star moved left, you are looking north.
If the star shifted to the right, you are facing south.
If the star is higher, you are looking east.
If the star moved down, you are facing west
The star will likely have moved in a combination of directions, like up and to the right. So, you will need to estimate your southeast direction by how much the star moved in each direction.
Using Landmarks to Stay on Course
Find landmarks around you. You can look for natural landmarks, like mountains, lakes, and rivers. You can also look for manmade landmarks like roads, buildings or bridges.
You can also try to line up a landmark with another landmark further away. Keep the landmark in line with the more distant landmark as you travel to be sure you are going straight.
If you have a map, orient the map in the direction you are facing. North is usually up at the top of a map.
Walking straight may seem easy, but without a means of getting their bearings people tend to walk in circles while thinking they are traveling in a straight line.
Move towards a landmark. When you reach it, make a mark in the direction you came from. Use a stick and scratch a line in the dirt.
Find another landmark in front of you. Look for a hill, a tall tree, or any distinguishing feature in the direction you are heading. Be sure it lines up with your line in the dirt. Continue walking toward the landmark.
Repeat. When you get to the new landmark, look back to the last landmark and draw a line in the dirt. Line up a new landmark in front of you from the line in the dirt. Using this technique, you can continue to travel in a fairly straight direction so you can avoid becoming lost.
Study the trees. Moss will grow only on the north side of a tree. Deciduous plants tend to populate the southern slopes of hills while coniferous trees cover the north. These phenomena occur in the opposite manner in the southern hemisphere.Plant life signs may help you to determine your direction of travel, but it is not very imprecise. Though you shouldn't rely on these occurrences entirely when navigating, it can come in handy when other methods fail.