Wild Man
Could You Survive on Insects and Berries?
Do you have any bushcraft skills? If you were to become lost in the wild do you have the skills necessary to erect a shelter, start a fire, locate some water and find some nutritious food? And would you know what is safe to eat?
Living in the modern world we have lost touch with the sources of our food. Today, children grow up in cities and many have no idea where their food comes from. I once knew a young man who had no idea that burgers were made from beef. I have not idea what he thought they were made from.
If you are lost in the wild you might be surprised to find that there are no all night supermarkets. You would need to be able to recognize what is safe and healthy to eat. You may have seen Bear Grylls surviving in some of the most inhospitable locations on the planet where he always finds and eats whatever he can find. Something you may have noticed is that Bear is never without his bushcraft knife, an essential survival tool.
Wild berries can be a valuable form of food. Our ancient ancestors would have gathered nuts, berries and grain when in season with expert knowledge regarding what is good and safe to eat. But there are many berries which can be deadly poisonous.
Yew berries, for instance, are the cause of a high number of poisonings every year. They are very bright scarlet in colour with an indentation at the base, about 8 to 10mm in diameter. The berries are produced in September and they look deceptively appetizing which leads many young children to eat them.
Another berry that results in many visits to the hospital emergency room each year is Deadly Nightshade. The clue is in the name, but the trick is being able to recognise the plant. This plant, also known as Belladonna, produces sweet tasting berries in September that have lead to many children visiting the hospital.
Insects can be a valuable source of protein and energy and they are a lot easier to catch than many larger animals. Most insects are actually edible, but some taste better than others. Most insect species are actually very low in fat and high in protein, a very healthy form of food.Grasshoppers, crickets, wood grubs and mealworms are all a safe bet for eating. Most insects taste better when barbecued and you can even grind them up into a flour like powder.
Rabbits, birds and other small animals are all good to eat but can be difficult to catch. This is particularly true if you are lost in the wilderness without any form of weapon. In these circumstances some form of trap will possibly provide the best chance of catching an animal.
You may have read this thinking that you will never be lost in the wild, so desperately hungry that you would eat your own socks. But it really could happen to you. All you have to do is stray from the main path through a forest, as I once did, and before you know it you are disoriented and lost. That’s when you’ll wish you’d paid more attention to Ray Mears Extreme Survival.
Wild Man
