Q&A for How to Survive in the Woods

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  • Question
    What should I do if I'm lost in the woods?
    Britt Edelen
    Outdoor Educator
    Britt Edelen was an active member of his local Boy Scouts troop near Athens, Georgia from ages 8 to 16. As a Scout, he went on dozens of camping trips, learned and practiced many wilderness survival skills, and spent countless hours appreciating the great outdoors. In addition, Britt worked as a counselor for several summers at an adventure camp in his hometown, which allowed him to share his passion for and knowledge of the outdoors with others.
    Outdoor Educator
    Expert Answer
    Try to stay put where you are since people will be more likely to find you and you won't use up as much energy. If you don't feel safe, try moving to higher ground near a river or stream so you have access to fresh water.
  • Question
    How do you stay warm if lost in the woods?
    Britt Edelen
    Outdoor Educator
    Britt Edelen was an active member of his local Boy Scouts troop near Athens, Georgia from ages 8 to 16. As a Scout, he went on dozens of camping trips, learned and practiced many wilderness survival skills, and spent countless hours appreciating the great outdoors. In addition, Britt worked as a counselor for several summers at an adventure camp in his hometown, which allowed him to share his passion for and knowledge of the outdoors with others.
    Outdoor Educator
    Expert Answer
    You can make a fire to keep warm with twigs, dry sticks, branches, and tree bark to serve as your kindling.
  • Question
    Can you give me some information on how to build a shelter and list some safe foods that I could find in the forest?
    Community Answer
    For shelter, you may use sticks and really wide and big leaves to build a foundation of a shelter. Also you can use a big blanket or tarpaulin to put around the sticks and leaves. For safe food in the woods you can eat, blackberries, dandelions, asparagus, elderberries, gooseberries, mulberries, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, acorns, hickory nuts, clovers, red clovers and many more. See further How to find Wild Edible Plants for more details.
  • Question
    What dangerous animals are in the woods?
    Community Answer
    In North America, animals that can potentially be dangerous to you if you don't know how to avoid them or behave calmly around them include mountain lions, bears, coyotes and any animals carrying diseases such as rabies, hanta virus, etc. Most animals only attack if you threaten them or get between them and their young, or if you appear vulnerable in some way. Don't scare the animals if you do come across them and keep away from them as much as you can. Read wikiHow's articles on dealing with each animal should you need to.
  • Question
    What are some examples of edible plants in the forest?
    Community Answer
    One of the easiest plants you can eat are dandelions: You can eat the flower part (it's yellow). Just pick it off the stem with your fingers. Don't eat the sap, it's a white liquid (it's very bitter). To find more edible plants, check out: https://www.wikihow.com/Find-Wild-Edible-Plants.
  • Question
    What kinds of material can you find in the woods to use as clothing or blankets?
    Community Answer
    Weave together grass or sticks to make a blanket. You can cover yourself with dirt, grass or leaves to keep warm at night. For clothing, weave together large leafs from trees if available.
  • Question
    How can a kid survive in the woods when it is hard to find things needed?
    Community Answer
    Children should never go into the woods alone. When you do go, take extra food, water and a warm jacket. Take a map and a compass, as well as your phone. Put these into a small day pack, so that you have survival basics. The rest of the article should be as applicable to you as a kid as it is to anyone else.
  • Question
    Would it be safe to try and sleep in a tree?
    Anaka Blackwood
    Community Answer
    No, because there is a possibility of falling out. You could try building a treehouse to minimize the risk of broken bones and concussions.
  • Question
    How do I survive if a pack of wolves come?
    Community Answer
    Make a lot of loud noise, bang rocks, sticks etc. Wolves usually don't go near people because they prefer going after easier prey.
  • Question
    How many days can a human survive without food?
    Community Answer
    The average adult human can survive up to three weeks, depending on the individual's health, background, etc. as well as the environmental conditions within which the starvation is taking place. That being said, you cannot survive more then three days without water, so when you hike, always bring water, as you never can be too sure.
  • Question
    What happens if I accidentally threaten a wild animal by making fire? Will it kill me?
    Community Answer
    It is possible. Try to back away. If it seems to come closer, do not panic. Do not run as they like to chase and they are probably much faster than you. Get somewhere high up (e.g a tree). Don't approach it.
  • Question
    Do I need a knife to survive?
    Community Answer
    It would definitely be helpful to have a knife, but there are alternatives that can be useful too. It's possible to survive without a knife, although it would be more difficult.
  • Question
    What happens if I can't find water?
    lyrics gurl
    Community Answer
    Try digging under ground. If you are in a rainforest, or in stormy weather, try waiting for the rain. In the desert, you can find water inside cactus.
  • Question
    How would you gut a fish?
    Community Answer
    You might find How to Gut a Fish helpful.
  • Question
    Can I use dental floss for fishing line? What if it is mint flavored?
    Community Answer
    Probably, but it should only be used as a last resort. The fact that it is mint doesn't make a difference. The water will probably wash the flavoring away. Just make sure the floss doesn't snap in half.
  • Question
    What if I don't have any stuff to survive on?
    Kalicokittykat
    Community Answer
    You should always have at least a very basic survival kit when going into the wilderness, but if you don't, use rocks to sharpen sticks for weapons and look around for any trash left by other people.
  • Question
    How do I know if I am lost?
    Community Answer
    You are lost in the woods if you cannot find your way out of them and do not recognize your surroundings.
  • Question
    What should I bring if I have my horse with me?
    Community Answer
    First, you shouldn't have to bring much for your horse if you get lost. As long as you can find a water source, your horse can drink straight from there and just eat grass and plants. However, horses have a very strong sense of direction. If you take a horse far away, it will not be able to resist returning home.
  • Question
    Can boiling water increase lead content?
    Community Answer
    Unlikely. People boil water and drink it every day without adverse effects.
  • Question
    What if I didn't bring my trusty pot for water?
    Community Answer
    If you brought some sort of tinfoil or cloth, you can (especially with tinfoil) shape the material to hold water.
  • Question
    How can I mark my surroundings?
    Anaka Blackwood
    Community Answer
    Carve symbols on trees, place sticks and rocks in the dirt, mark where you've been with small pebbles, and/or take a rope or vine and trail it behind you.
  • Question
    Can you use a t-shirt to filter the water if needed?
    Community Answer
    Yes. This does not remove bacteria, so you should still boil it to purify it, but it does remove sediment.
  • Question
    Why wouldn't people just memorize landmarks as they hike? Why do they get lost?
    Community Answer
    Sometimes, people can simply forget landmarks (after all, one tree can look like another), or not even be paying attention at all. They forget the dangers of the woods, and when someone does realize they're lost, its easy to start panicking.
  • Question
    Is surviving in the wilderness as a hobby legal or do I need some kind of permit?
    Community Answer
    It depends on where you'll be going. If you're on private land, then you would need the landowner's permission. However, there are tons of publicly accessible parks and forests that can be used for wilderness survival.
  • Question
    What flowers can I eat in the forest?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the exact location, but some edible flowers include dandelions, hibiscus, lavender, pansies, and roses.
  • Question
    How do you survive frostbite?
    Community Answer
    Once you feel that you can't feel the part of the body, that means that you have frostbite. It happens when you move too much; it can happen when it's cold, etc. It is easy to get rid of it. You can make a fire (If the weather is good) and warm the part, and /or rub and move the part. For example: If you have frostbite on your toes, you can rub move them until you can feel them again. When you do, that means you don't have frostbite anymore.
  • Question
    Can I eat plants raw?
    Community Answer
    Sure, if they're safe to eat. Check out a guide that list wild edible plants in your area to make sure.
  • Question
    If I drink melted snow, does it have bacteria and stuff in it?
    Community Answer
    It might, so it's always best to boil it first. Of course, if this is not an option, and you're going to die of thirst, you should just drink the melted snow.
  • Question
    What if I'm injured and cannot seek medical help?
    Anaka Blackwood
    Community Answer
    Try making a bandage out of non-poisonous leaves tied together with a rope. If the injury is severe, create a variety of signals to show yourself to a potential rescuer.
  • Question
    How can I make a shelter?
    Community Answer
    Use leaves and sticks as basic requirements. If you have vines or a rope you can improvise and tie the sticks together, use the leaves/vines as a roof, etc.
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