Forest Survival in the Wilds

Found a good "Forest (Temperate) Survival" link? Let Us Know!

The worst enemy and most serious hindrance to survival in a temperate forest - regardless of season - is the person themselves. Lack of foresight, panic, carelessness and ignorance will kill an adult in the woods faster than any other threat. Therefore, the very best place to begin to learn about survival in the temperate forest biome is in the General Survival Skills and Wilderness Emergencies sections of this site. MEG

The Quaking Aspens by Paul J. Van Horn: In September and October, many people flock to the high country of Colorado and other western states to view the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. The chief attraction for this pilgrimage are the vast groves of quaking aspen trees, whose oranges and brilliant yellows light up the mountains. In this case though, beauty is far more than skin deep. Aspen trees offer much more than visual appeal to the backcountry traveler. Food, medicine, and materials for a host of different tools can be found in great abundance in these forests. See also: The Life - Saving Birch Tree (pdf) [Links recovered 4/12/11 - now hosted on site!]

Lost in the Woods Child Survival K-7 This Child Survival program is presented to students, cubs, guides, parents and interest groups across North America. It is not a "Hug a Tree" program. It goes into more detail and adds more Rules for Survival. The presentation is about one hour and thirty minutes. The maximum group size is about one hundred and twenty (or whatever the instructor can handle). The film, "Lost in the Woods" by Barry Casson, is shown as part of the presentation. Experiments taken from the book, "Lost in the Woods" by Colleen Politano, are done during each session. The Instructor package is available from the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) bookstore at 703-222-6277 or Emergency Response Institute (ERI) at 360-491-7785 or SARBC.

US Equivalent of the above, illustrated.

Outdoor Life - Woodsmanship Quiz Think you know a lot about deer and how to pattern them? Take the test below to see how you score as a woodsman and hunter. Study the photos and give it your best shot. (Click on the link below for the answers.)

Temperate Forest Virtual Library. Awesome collection of information on temperate forests. Includes articles and software offerings.

Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Disclaimer-- The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. HINT: Click on the small photo images for crisp, detailed, enlarged views.

Urban Tree Identification For North Carolina HINT: Click on the small photo images for crisp, detailed, enlarged views.

GAIA Forest Conservation Archives. A bit politically and environmentally motivated, but an interesting source of information. Vast Information on Rainforests, Forest Conservation and Biodiversity--and How to Help Save Them.

http://www.forestinfo.org/ The purpose of the foundation is to gather, analyze, and communicate scientifically credible information to the public on social, economic, and ecological issues.

How to Survive in the Woods for 3 Days - WikiHow Ever been on a hike--admiring the wild flowers, gazing up at the tips of the trees--and suddenly found yourself completely alone and lost? What would happen to you if you couldn't find your way back to safety? While being lost in the woods can be a frightening experience, surviving alone in the wild is generally a matter of common sense, patience, and wisely using the gifts that nature provides. All you need to survive for a few days is shelter, warmth, food, and water.

Survival Stories: The Big Woods Mesmerized by hoof prints in the snow, a deer hunter can lose track of time. This inclination can land him in the most common survival situation hunters face—that of spending an unexpected night in the wilderness, with the temperature plummeting. See also: Field & Stream's Guide to Basic Camping and Fishing Knots [Links updated 4/12/11]

Woodsman Home Page Uses "stealth" links that you kind of have to hunt for, but has a few interesting articles. "Welcome to the Woodsman Magazine, the site for fun and adventure in the great north woods. A site for the whole family. There is something for everyone. Lots of fishing, ice fishing, hunting articles and stories, many original short stories (humor and adventure), a woodsman's journal and blog, your braggin' photos, a resort guide and real estate guide, and so much more. It's a FREE site in that we don't ask you to pay anything to subscribe or access our features."

The Young Woodsman by J. McDonald Oxley - Project Gutenberg Life in the Forests of Canada

Living the outlaw life ~ Squatter: Living in the woods like it was nobody’s business by Claire Wolfe: When I first saw the battered old camper with a tarp rigged as an awning between it and the nearby trees, I thought it was probably owned by a hunter. It was that time of year. A couple of days later, when a scrounged and rusty wood stove appeared as part of the temporary “household,” I began to wonder. And when camper, stove, tarp, and big black dog were still in the woods in the snows of December, I knew. I’d acquired a new neighbor, a squatter.

You can become a hardcore forager By Larry Cywin: Becoming a hardcore forager is not difficult, but it does take some time to learn the basics. This article will get you started.

Reflecting on a life in the woods By Marjorie Burris: It is a good life here on the old homestead. We've worked hard, and we are enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Gather rose hips for health By Gail Butler: Vitamin C-rich rose hips can be found in dried form in most health food stores, but why not gather your own? You’ll save money and you’ll know where they came from.

Living on acorns, salamanders and solitude ~ Respect of nature key to staying alive. By Marsha Walton, CNN, Wednesday, June 18, 2003: City dwellers may have a hard time imagining how Eric Rudolph, the suspected serial bomber captured in North Carolina, survived for five years living in the woods while fending off a huge federal manhunt. For a culture accustomed to fast food, Internet ordering and overnight mail delivery, the idea of constantly searching for water, food and shelter is difficult to fathom. But survivalists say it's not so tough. "With a little bit of knowledge and the right mind-set, you can lead a pretty comfortable life," said Jim Morris, a former Army Ranger who has taught survival skills.

Living in the Woods by Aedan Tremaine ~ January 21st. 2007: A few years back, I had my own Walden experience. My ex-wife and I had bought some land out in the woods to build a house on. When we separated, she got our house and I got the land. It was a fairly remote location, full of old-growth hardwoods with a creek at the back of the property, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians.

Living In The Woods ~ Simon Fairlie argues for planning reform that allows woodland workers to make a viable living. For an increasing number of people who are setting up full-time livelihoods in woodlands, the ability to live on site may be essential for the viability of their enterprise. This is particularly true for multifaceted enterprises which focus not just on timber, but on other products, such as charcoal, woodland crafts, pigs, poultry, fruit and mushrooms. [Link updated 4/12/11]

Make emergency snowshoes: Making a pair of emergency snowshoes to get to safety is extremely simple. It's surprising how many people try to get to safety in knee deep snow and drop from exhaustion. A bit more on the same idea

CATCH SMALL ANIMALS : Just because you're stuck in the woods doesn't mean you have to eat leaves and grass. Here's how to use your fishing net (one of the necessary items) to catch squirrels or birds. SSRsi REVISION: Substitute a "pocket hammock" for the fishing net. This gives you dual use for the same space/weight. Of course, a hammock isn't QUITE as good for catching fish, but you can't really rig a fishnet for sleeping off the ground, can you?

Survival Snaring - The Savvy Lazy Survivor's way of Putting Meat on the Pot The biggest thing I have to overcome with most survival students is what I call the rabbit/squirrel syndrome. Most survival manuals deal with the snare wire of 22-28 ga wire. Why because the author doesn't know about real snares. Will the snare wire work for rabbits and squirrel sure it will I am not saying it won't but let us deal with a little reality. You will starve to death if all you eat is rabbits and squirrels. The meat is too lean. You need fat to survive in the wild. You can't survive on wild greens either because your body needs B-12. The only way to get B-12 in the wild is through meat. Starve to death means over 30 days so don't e-mail me with "I spend a weekend surviving on just wild greens".

Please Read The Website Disclaimer!
Copyright 1986-2012, The Survival & Self-Reliance Studies Institute (SSRsi), All Rights Reserved
Site conceptualized, designed, created & maintained by MEG Raven
Snail Mail: SSRsi, PO Box 2572 Dillon, CO. 80435-2572