After water, man's most urgent requirement is food.   In contemplating virtually any hypothetical survival situation, the mind immediately turns to thoughts of food.  Unless the situation occurs in an arid environment, even water, which is more important to maintaining body functions, will almost always follow food in our initial thoughts.  The survivor must remember that the three essentials of survival - water, food, and shelter - are prioritized according to the estimate of the actual situation.  This estimate must not only be timely but accurate as well.  Some situations may well dictate that shelter precede both food and water.

Insects

   The most abundant life-form on earth, insects are easily caught.  Insects provide 65 to 80 percent protein compared to 20 percent for beef.  This fact makes insects an important, if not overly appetizing, food source.  Insects to avoid include all adults that sting or bite, hairy or brightly colored insects, and caterpillars and insects that have a pungent odor.   Also avoid spiders and common disease carriers such as ticks, flies, and mosquitoes.

    Finding Insects

   1.  Under Rotting logs you can find ants, termites, beetles, and grubs. (ground up to a paste and add to other foods)

    2.  Check under stones for worms, snails, slugs (to eat worms put them into a pale of water, they will was themselves out.  You can eat them raw.)

    3.  Check tall grasses for grasshoppers (to eat grasshoppers remove any wings and barbed legs, cook them before eating they can carry parasites.)

    4.  Look in nooks and cranys of trees and shady spots.

Fish

    Fish represent a good source of protein and fat.  They offer some distinct advantages to the survivor or evader.   They are usually more abundant than mammal wildlife, and they ways to get them are silent.  To be successful at catching fish, you must know their habits.  For instance, fish tend to feed heavily before a storm.  Fish are not likely to feed after a storm when the water is muddy and swollen.  Light often attracts fish at night.  When there is a heavy current, fish will rest in places where there is an eddy, such as near rocks.  Fish will also gather where there are deep pools, under overhanging brush, and in and around submerged foliage, logs, or other objects that offer them shelter.

    Cook all freshwater fish to kill parasites. 

Amphibians

    Frogs and salamanders are easily found around bodies of fresh water.  Frogs seldom move from the safety of the water's edge.   At the first sigh of danger, they plunge into the water and bury themselves in the mud and debris.  Stay away from toads as several species of toads secrete a poisonous substance throught their skin as a defense against attack.

    Salamanders are nocturnal.  The best time to catch them is at night using a light.  They can range in size from a few centimeters to well over 60 centimeters in lenght.  Look in water around rocks and mud for salamanders.

Birds

    All species of birds are edible.   Eggs are easily available from ground nesters.

Mammals

    Mammals are execllent protein sources.

    Finding Mammals

    Trails between watering and feeding places are clearest on wet grounds. Gnawed bark. 

Plants

    There are few places without some kind of etable vegetation.  Plants contain minerals, vitamins, protein and carbohydrates.   Do not eat plants that when crushed smell of biter almonds or peaches.  When trying new plants chew a small portion of it, then spit it out.  Wait a few minutes to check for throat discomfort.  Ingest a small amount and wait a few hours.   Eat or drink nothing during this time.  If no reactions to the above then they plant may be considered safe.  If stomach trouble should occur drink plently of hot water.  Do not eat again untill the pain has left.  Its wise to familiarize yourself with edible plants before hand.

Traps and Trapping

    Rules for traps

    1.  Avoid disturbing environment:  Don't tread on game trail, leave no sign that you have been there.

    2.  Hide scent: Were gloves when making traps, snares.

    3.  Camouflage: Hide freshly cut ends of wood with mud.   Cover ground snares to blend in naturally.

    4.  Make them strong: An ensnared animal will fight for its life.