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After water, food is man�s most urgent requirement . Unless the situation occurs in an arid environment, even water, will almost always follow food in our initial thoughts. You must remember the three essentials of survival - water, food and shelter - must prioritised according to the situation. This must not only be timely but accurate. Some situations may well dictate that shelter precede both food and water. Think hard about what your circumstances are and what is needed at that moment.
ANIMALS FOR FOOD
If you do not have the chance to take large game, then concentrate your efforts on the smaller animals, these may well be in abundance. Smaller animals are easier to prepare.
Remember the following: It is easier to make a list of the poisonous animals they make a smaller list, if its not on the poisonous list its edible. What is important to remember is the habits and behavioural patterns of animals. For example, animals that are good choices for trapping, those that inhabit a particular range and occupy a den or nest, those that have fixed feeding areas, and those that have trails that lead from one area to another. Larger animals, such as elk or caribou, roam vast areas and are more difficult to trap. Try to understand the food choices of a particular species.
You may, with few exceptions, eat anything that craws, swims, walks, or flies. The first obstacle is to overcome the natural revulsion of a particular food. It is known and recorded that people in starvation situations have eaten everything imaginable for nourishment. Anyone who ignores an otherwise healthy food source due to feeling that it is unappetizing, or that ten minutes ago it was crawling under a log is risking his/her own survival. It may prove difficult at first, but to be a survivor you must eat what is available to stay alive long enough to be rescued or for you to make your return to civilisation.
Insects
The most abundant life-form on earth are insects. They are easily caught and can provide upto 80 percent protein compared to 20 percent for beef. This makes insects an important if not an appetizing food source. Remember to avoid all adult insects that sting or bite, hairy or brightly coloured, caterpillars and insects that have a pungent odour. Also avoid spiders, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes the last three are common disease carriers.
Where to find them
Rotting logs are excellent places to look for a variety of insects including ants, termites, beetles, and grubs. Do not overlook insect nests on or in the ground. Good areas to search are Grassy areas, such as fields, as the insects are easily seen. Any materials lying on the ground provide good nesting sites for insects. Insect larvae are also edible.
Preparation
Cook the following Insects before eating: beetles and grasshoppers (they have a hard outer shell which will contain parasites remove the shell before cooking). All others can be mashed raw into a paste and eaten. Remove wings and barbed legs from all insects.
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