How to Survive in the North American Forest

As human civilization progresses, everyone has become more reliant on technology. Currently, one can use DoorDash or Grubhub to order fresh food to their doorstep without even leaving home, buy things online without going to a market, and communicate with others from one side of the globe to the other instantaneously. In contrast to the present, in the past, many people often had to work to make or find their own food. This proves that society has lost many, if not most, of the survival skills that our ancestors needed. This can pose a problem, as being stranded alone in the wilderness in modern-day society is almost a death sentence for some people. However, the information provided here can help individuals overcome that, allowing them to survive in even the harshest wilderness, should they ever find themselves alone in the North American forest.

One of, if not the single most important factors in survival is fire. Fire can help purify water, cook food, prevent hypothermia, and craft tools. There are many different methods of creating fire, such as using a bow drill, a tool designed to efficiently create fires. However, all methods require tinder and wood. Tinder can be made from various dry materials, such as dry grass, peeled strands of bark, or animal fur. It is used to start a fire and can consist of any thin, long, dry material.

To use the bow drill method to create fire, you will need one flat rock, one sharp rock, tinder, two flat pieces of wood, one long stick, one thick stick, and some string.

1. 1. Start by curving the long stick into a crescent shape, ensuring it is as long as your arm. Tie it in place using the string. If it snaps under pressure, you will need to find a thicker stick. If you can’t find string, you can braid and coil long grass together or use your shoelaces.

      

   2.  Once the bow is completed, the fire board is needed to start the fire. Use a sharp rock to carve a shallow hole into the flat wood and add a notch on the side like so:

      

   3. Now the bow is ready to start a fire! Place a flat piece of wood under the fireboard. This piece of wood is called the ember pan and will catch the coal created by the bow drill. Insert the thick stick into the hole, ensuring it fits snugly. Then, coil the bowstring around the stick and begin moving it back and forth in a sawing motion. Make sure to apply pressure to the stick with the stone.
   4. Sawing back and forth will create friction, allowing for the creation of fire. Once embers and coal catch on the ember pan and it begins to smoke adequately, drop the bow, stick, and stone. Place the bottom board inside the tinder and blow, cupping it with your hands to prevent the heat from dissipating.

      

Eventually, your smoldering bundle of tinder will burst into flames. At this point, all you must do is place wood and other flammable materials on the tinder, ensuring there are plenty of gaps for fresh air to circulate.

Another one of the most basic and necessary human needs is water. Water is essential for any organism; one cannot survive without it. If someone finds themselves alone in the wilderness, the first thing they must do is find a source of water. Humans can survive only three days without it. Whether from a stream or a pond, a source of water is always important. However, not all water sources are safe to use, as stagnant water often contains life-threatening bacteria and other organisms that can make you sick. Even moving water can pose a risk. To address this problem, one must learn to purify water.

1. Find a thick log and carve a large hole or crevice into it, shaping it into a bowl. Repeat this process to create a second bowl.
2. Find a source of water and fill one bowl with water. Using your clothes, you can separate the clean water from excess mud and debris.

   

3. Pour the water over the clothes, making sure they are suspended above the empty bowl. This process will filter out the mud and debris from the water.
4. Now, place the water bowl over a fire until it boils. Once boiled, you will have purified water.

Now that fire and water have been obtained, you need to focus on another essential element of survival: food.

Many wild berries are often inedible, so it’s best to avoid brightly colored berries, as most red and brightly colored berries can be toxic. If you find non-red berries, look for clues to determine if they are safe. If there are swarms of flies, bees, or even other wildlife, such as squirrels, eating from the bush, there’s a high chance that the berry is edible. However, eating berries is a risky gamble, as even our early ancestors did not know if many berries were safe until they tried them. If you cannot find any berries nearby, try to catch insects to eat, as they can provide substantial nutritional value when cooked.

In the end, be prepared as you explore the wild or travel long distances. In the wild, various dangers may lurk, such as starvation, poisoning, hypothermia, and dehydration. However, the methods discussed—such as the bow drill fire method, the purification of water, and berry foraging—will greatly increase your chances of survival if you ever find yourself stranded alone in the North American forest.