Survival Foods: What You Need to Know in the Great Outdoors

In the vast expanse of the wilderness, survival goes beyond just satisfying hunger. While you can endure weeks without food, focusing on immediate needs like shelter, water, and staying dry and uninjured takes precedence. However, the knowledge that you can forage for food in the outdoors, coupled with the comfort of having something in your stomach, can significantly boost your morale and, consequently, enhance your chances of survival.

So, what essentials should you know about survival foods in the great outdoors? Forget the notion of memorizing every wild edible plant; instead, concentrate on understanding a few basic categories of animals and identifying the most abundant and calorie-rich plants.

Survival Foods – The Wildlife
In North America, virtually all mammals are edible (excluding the livers of certain arctic mammals). However, due to potential parasites, it’s essential to wash your hands after handling them and cook the meat if possible. North American birds, including their eggs, are suitable for consumption. I’ve even savored seagull eggs cooked on a hot rock, finding them surprisingly palatable. Freshwater fish in North America are all edible, though the challenge lies in catching them. Nonetheless, with a fire at your disposal, cooking them becomes a quick and easy task. Amphibians and reptiles are generally safe to eat once you remove the skin. Having personally cooked snake in a stew and over a fire, I recommend the latter method for a more authentic outdoor culinary experience.

Survival Foods – The Flora
Cattail stands out as one of the most abundant and calorie-rich foods in the wilderness. The white part of the stalk and the new shoots can be consumed raw or cooked, while flower spikes can be cooked like corn-on-the-cob. Its roots, when mashed in water, release starch that can be added to soups. Familiarize yourself with cattails, as they thrive in swamps or wet soil.

Edible berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and blackberries, offer a delightful and filling survival food during the right season. If it resembles the domestic variety (usually smaller) and possesses a familiar smell and taste, it’s safe to eat.

The inner bark of pine trees is a year-round edible survival food. The white spongy layer between the outer bark and the wood, although primarily fiber, contains enough carbohydrates to be boiled into a soup if no other options are available.

While knowing which mushrooms and flowers are edible can be enjoyable, they provide minimal calories. For immediate survival knowledge, focus on common animals and the most abundant, calorie-rich edible plants. These are the survival foods that may very well be your lifeline in the wilderness.