How to Survive in the Wild. No one intentionally gets lost in the wild or ventures forth unprepared, but circumstances such as weather conditions or medical emergencies may require the use of wilderness survival. By addressing the basic human needs of food, shelter and water and focusing on key survival techniques, a person can survive in the wild until help arrives.
Remain dry to conserve body warmth. Do not intentionally get wet.
Avoid frostbite by staying out of the wind. Uncovered skin can become frostbitten in a matter of seconds under the right conditions. Wind is the biggest factor.
Stay out of direct sunlight and find shade where possible. Direct sun can cause heatstroke or result in dehydration.
Light a fire using one of several methods: matches or lighter if available, flint or other sharp edged rock and steel from a knife blade, or focus the sun through an eyeglass lens or found glass on tinder. Dead grass, birch bark and cattails make excellent fire starting materials.
Look for a cave or other natural weather shield to set up shelter. Check for other wildlife like bears, snakes or cougars before claiming the shelter.
Build a lean-to using evergreen branches leaned against a dead branch. Cover the tree branches with grasses, cattails or thatch to close the gaps in the roof of the lean-to. The goal is to keep the ground under the lean-to dry.
Set up a system for acquiring drinkable water before seeking food. Humans can live without food before they can live without water.
Dig a hole with hands or a stick several feet from a river or lake. Let the hole fill in by itself and use that water to drink.
Lay a tarp or plastic on the ground as if lining a bowl. Leave overnight so the tarp will collect the dew, which is water.
Drink sap from birch trees or maple trees by slicing a branch with a knife or breaking it off. The sap is mostly water and slightly sweet, providing needed carbohydrates.
Follow dry creek beds to the water source. Check a dry creek bed at night and it may contain water not found during the day.
Conserve water by traveling at night and resting in the shade during the day.
Boil water for 15 minutes (and cool) before drinking to make it safe. Use iodine tablets or a water filter if available in your emergency pack.
Eat only known plant specimens like berries, nuts and fruit if foraging. This is not the time to test your wild mushroom knowledge.
Watch for signs of wildlife. If the animals eat it, it is probably safe for humans too.
Dig up the roots of edible plants like cattails, wild onions and carrots to eat raw or boiled in water. Gather worms and grubs for protein.
Maintain protein levels by capturing and eating available meat sources. Dig trap holes to catch rabbits or small mammals. Fish and snakes are also available sources of protein that require minimal hunting skill.
