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Survival News: FBI Begins Investigation Into Russian Election Hacking

FBI director James Comey, a controversial figure himself during the 2016 election, has announced that his bureau has begun an investigation into the claims of Russian interference. This comes amidst a flurry of controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s claims on Twitter that President Obama wiretapped his election headquarters at Trump Tower two weeks ago, a claim which the left is demanding evidence for. FBI Director James B. Comey and National Security Agency head Michael S. Rogers set to testify at the House Intelligence Committee hearing on possible collusion between President Trump and the Kremlin. As Comey announces how seriously the FBI is taking the […]

Two Survival Skills to Start Practicing Right Now

Learning about survival and survival skills is quite beneficial. Reading about different methods of survival in books and online can provide you with a nice foundation from which you can begin, but you need to remember that it is only the foundation. You are responsible for taking the information you learn and then applying it to situations in the real world. It is time that you took your knowledge outside of the house and started to use it, so you know that you have the real skills it will take to survive. The following are three skills that you should […]

Camping Equipment Then and Now (Infographic)

I found this infographic recently on Survival-spot.com and it definitely really struck my interest. While I sure love my modern luxuries, I tend to think of most older products as superior. And when it comes to camping and survival gear, while some tools and resources have certainly evolved, I also felt myself wishing I had some of this old gear. I think what was particularly striking to me about this infographic though was how the older gear was not only manufactured using stronger materials in some cases, but, particularly in the case of the map vs. GPS, the older gear […]

Edible Plants in the Arctic

Being stranded in the arctic is certainly no small crisis. While it’s not impossible to survive, it would certainly be a huge challenge, but if you travel to arctic regions at all for hunting, fishing, or other sporting, you should prepare yourself, just in case, for the unfortunate disaster in which you might end up stranded. Of course, being able to make or find shelter, start a fire, and simply survive the freezing temperatures is the biggest priority, if you have those down, you will need to sustain yourself. While hunting and fishing will probably be you best bet, there […]

How to Rack a Slide Like a Lady (Video)

There’s a common misconception out there that women shouldn’t use semi-automatic handguns as their concealed carry weapons of choice because they’re too difficult to rack. While it is true that most women have smaller hands that perform differently than men, females still have entirely sufficient arm and hand strength to rack the slide on a semi-auto. It’s just about technique, and using your muscles efficiently. Collen from Keeping the Piece: Defensive Handgun Training for women, explains in this video how easily women can rack a slide, with a little practice and the right form. This is a great video for any […]

DIY Paracord Bracelet

I just shared an article all about paracords, and since one of the most popular ways to carry paracord for EDC is in a handy bracelet, I thought I’d share some really simple instructions on how to make your own from DIYReady.com. These are great DIYs, in my opinion, because they’re really simple to do, and what could be smarter than keeping something as versatile and useful as a paracord on your person at all times? Plus, they make great gifts for survival-minded friends and family, and making your own is much more affordable than buying them. You could probably […]

Radicalized French National Shot Dead in Paris Airport

Hours after shooting a police officer in the face, a French man of North African descent was shot dead in Paris’ Orly Airport after seizing a security officer’s gun. The attacker, 39-year-old Ziyed Ben Belgacem, was wanted for questioning by police, and earlier in the day had opened fire on a police officer in a suburb of Paris during an identity check. He then abandoned his vehicle, which was found later, and hijacked a woman’s car at gunpoint. At some point before being shot dead, he texted his father to tell him he’d shot at a police officer. His father and […]

How Many Ways Can You Use Paracord?

When it comes to survival, you will find that some tools are better than others, naturally. You will also find that some of the tools you choose can do more than just one thing. That is always one of the things that you should consider when you are choosing items that you know you will want with you when bugging out or when trying to survive anywhere. If an item can do several jobs, it means you can pack lighter. Take paracord as an example. This is one of the most helpful and handy survivor tools out there, and having […]

Bad Habits to Break Now If You Hope to Survive

Having great skills and a lot of knowledge is essential for survival. Perhaps you have been working hard to develop those skills. However, if you still have some bad health habits, you will find that even with great skills, you are not going to survive very long. Let’s look at some of the most problematic of these vices. If you have these issues, or others that could inhibit your ability to survive, it is a good idea to make sure that you put in the effort to break those habits sooner rather than later. After all, when it is later, […]

5 Budget Survival Foods to Start Your Stash

There’s a lot of expensive survival gear out there, but you can definitely get a good stash going with very little money. Here are a few suggestions for survival foods to stock up on now that won’t break the bank. Rice White rice is an awesome survival food, and it will keep for a long time on the shelf. Plus, you can usually pick up a bag for very cheap, especially at discount grocery stores or places like Costco. Spend $10 a month on rice and you’ll be in very good shape! Beans If you buy nothing but rice and […]

Safety Tips for Survival Travel

If you are in a wilderness survival situation, there are a great many reasons why you might find yourself needing to travel. In fact, most of the time, if you are stranded in the wilderness, it is going to be your prime objective. But even if you are staying in place, you’ll probably find yourself traveling to look for food or water, scout the area, or scavenge for supplies. Here are some tips for how to travel smartly in the wilderness. High Road When you are moving uphill, take your time, and try to avoid raising your heart rate or […]

Fukushima-It’s Coming for California (Video)

I’ve written about the recent news coming out of Fukushima, Japan recently, and there is pretty much no good news that relates to the greatest nuclear disaster in history. Bill Still breaks down exactly what is so deadly about the radiation that continues to seep out of the now-inoperable nuclear plant, which was damaged in the 2003 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan’s West Coast. The media doesn’t even seem to be denying what is happening in Fukushima, simply downright ignoring it, or at best, downplaying it. But the reality is, it is most likely going to continue on as […]

Survival Uses for Salvaged Bones

If you are in a true wilderness situation, odds are, you’ll either be killing animals, or you have a good chance of finding an animal carcass lying around. Even if the animal is of no use to you as food, the bones are most likely still strong and useful, and how. There are many ways you can use bones for survival purposes, and most ancient cultures show us this. Bones have been used for centuries for a wide range of tools, weapons, and even jewelry. If you are stranded in the wilderness, you’ll definitely want to be on the lookout […]

Edible Plants in the Jungle

The jungle definitely has its pros and cons as a survival landscape. While jungles are typically quite lush, you also have to bear in mind that not everything is going to be edible, just because there are a lot of plants and flowers growing. Here is a guide to everything edible you’ll find in most tropical jungles, and a bit about each. Palms Found in most jungles and even other landscapes, palm trees truly are amazing plants. Not only are they an excellent source for nutrients, but you can also use many parts of the tree for tools and supplies, […]

Survival News: Growing Conflict Between Turkey and the Netherlands

A conflict between Turkey and the Netherlands that began last week has been growing as Dutch officials warn their citizens against travel to Turkey Monday. Last week, the Netherlands blocked Turkish officials from holding rallies in the Netherlands, as they were concerned about several crowds anticipating the arrival of the Turkish family minister turned violent. She had been there to campaign for upcoming Turkish elections, since there are nearly 3 million Turkish nationals living in the Netherlands. Government officials barred the family minister from entering the country, and the Turkish government was not pleased. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly vowed […]

Campfire Popcorn the Old Fashioned Way (Video)

Well, this is just one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long time. The vastly experienced bushcraft YouTubers, Far North Bushcraft and Survival, show us how to pop popcorn right over an open flame, and it is pretty awesome. I actually really love popcorn as a survival food, it’s not too heavy, keeps forever, and there aren’t a whole lot of foods that you can prepare so quickly and easily with little more than some cooking fat and heat, or, open flame in this case. I will definitely be bringing along some popcorn on my next trip to […]

Simple Homemade Mini Greenhouse

Spring is coming quick, and if you’re itching to get your survival garden planted, you will probably want to start seeds as soon as you can. If you don’t have the budget for one of those homemade PVC pipe DIY greenhouses, or you can’t build one because there’s still two feet of snow in your yard, I’ve got a great idea for how to get seeds started quickly and easily indoors, greenhouse style. This DIY mini-green house is ridiculously easy to make, and will hold in warmth and moisture just like a real greenhouse, only in miniature. If you’ve got […]

Survival News: Deadly Fungal Infection Detected in US

A highly drug-resistant fungal infection that doctors have been fearing has been found in nearly three dozen people in the US. Federal health officials warned in June of last year to be on the lookout for this deadly fungus, which has been spreading around the world in the last year. This is a strain of the Candida yeast, but unlike garden-variety yeast infections, this can cause infections in the bloodstream that can have devastating effects on circulation, heart, and lungs. It is also highly contagious, and can be communicated through the skin as well as live for weeks on bed rails, chairs, and […]

Improvised Weapon Ideas for Survival

Ideally, you’ll always have a firearm or knife when stranded in the wilderness or stuck in a precarious situation in which we had to defend our own life. But of course, you never know when you might find yourself without a man-made weapon, and you’ll have to improvise. These are a few ideas for ways to use you environment to protect yourself from an attacker. Dirt or Sand How to use sand or dirt for self-defense is a great thing to know in general, and could always be incorporated into any self-defense situation. You’ve probably seen it in the movies, […]

Survival News: Studies Indicate Daylight Savings is Bad for Health and Economy

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who hates the time changes of daylight savings, it probably will not surprise you to hear the conclusion of a recent study on the effects of daylight savings on the body. Not only is the practice of changing clocks each fall and spring annoying and disruptive, it’s also unhealthy to unnaturally change our sleep schedules and daily routine so abruptly each year. And not only that, it could actually be increasing energy costs, rather than saving them, which is one of the few reasons daylight savings is done, year after year. A recent trend […]

Gunshot First Aid Must-Haves (Infographic)

I wrote an article awhile back on first aid for a gunshot wound. I covered some bare-bones basics, but recently found this great infographic on first-aid must haves for a gunshot wound from ModernSurvival.com. Now, my original article was mostly in the context of waiting for paramedics to arrive, so considering this site is for survival preparedness, it is also going to be important to prepare for treating a gunshot wound if help isn’t going to come. Since we truly don’t know if world war or civil war are a real possibility, treating gunshot wounds in battle is honestly something […]

5 Creative Ways to Signal for Help

If you are stranded in the wilderness or trapped somewhere, your top priority beyond basic survival will be to signal for help. This might be from passing aircraft, boats, or anyone within eyesight who might be able to help; whatever you can do to alert someone else to your location could be life-saving. Here is a guide to a few different creative ways to signal for help. Keep in mind that you might not always want to signal for help, though, after a large-scale disaster, for example, in some cases, it might be more prudent to lay low and camouflage […]

How to Get Hydration From Cacti

Finding water in a cactus is common survival lore, but it’s not exactly true. While you can, in fact, find hydration in a cactus, it’s not as simple as cutting one open and glugging down some fresh, clean, drinking water. Cacti can, on the other hand, still save your life, if you know what you’re doing. They do in fact retain water, or moisture, rather, and if you open them up correctly, you can access that life-giving hydration. Here’s a simple guide: Flat cacti There are two main types of cacti, and one is the kind with flat parts. What you do […]

Banks vs. Credit Unions (Video)

I saw this video recently on a survival channel I really like, and I found it very interesting. It was actually posted in 2010, right in the midst of the last big financial crisis, but I think it’s still quite relevant today. Banks can be pretty risky places to keep your money, really, and I know many people who have switched to credit unions and have been very happy. This man shares why he switched to a credit union and the reasons he likes it and recommends it. Enjoy! The Silent Killer You’re Not Preparing For… What Do CIA Ops […]

Survival News: China Warns of New Arms Race

Earlier this week, the US began a large-scale misslie defense operation in South Korea, causing China to condemn the activities as well as warn of a potential arms race between North Korea and its southern neighbor and allies. The announcement from the US came after North Korea launched four missiles into Japanese waters, which state television said was a drill to attack American bases in Japan. This drill was performed shortly after North Korea announced they would block Malaysian citizens from leaving the country in response to the Malaysian government accusing North Korean citizens of using a nerve agent to kill Jim […]

Why Trees Are Awesome

This might seem like a funny title, but seriously, think about it. Trees are awesome. And when you are fighting for survival, you’ll come to love trees. They provide so much to us, from the air we breathe, to shelter, shade, even food. Here are a couple of reasons why trees are so crucial when you are trying to live off the land, to whatever degree. Shelter Trees can provide shelter in a number of ways. They can offer cool shade on a hot day, a shield against strong winds and rains, or can even be a temporary home if you have […]

How to Prepare Game for Consumption

We covered hunting vs. trapping a few days ago, and of course, once you’ve caught an animal, you need to make sure it’s consumable for humans. Here are some types of game you might catch in the wilderness and how to ensure they are safe for you to eat, as well as some general rules about dressing freshly caught animals in the field and preparing them for consumption. Birds You can usually peel off the skin of a bird, but this contains the most fat, so it’s actually better to pluck them as best you can. When you’ve gotten the […]

Survival News: Wikileaks’ Vault 7

The internet has been abuzz with the latest info dump from Wikileaks, code-named Vault 7 by the notorious hacking organization. It is the largest ever publication of confidential documents by Wikileaks. The first part of the Vault 7 series, called “Year Zero”, reveals thousands of documents from a high-level security network based in CIA headquarters in Langley, Virgina. These documents reveal the extent of the CIA’s global hacking system, which includes malware and “weaponized exploits” against a number of European and American products’ operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and even Samsung SmartTVs. Wikileak’s press release goes on to explain that […]

Bug Out Bag Training (Video)

I found this video recently and was pretty impressed with this man’s dedication to training with his bug out bag. This is serious stuff, and honestly, anyone who’s planning on bugging out should take note. He fills up his pack and runs a certain distance, to see how he can manage with the supplies he has packed up, and strengthen and condition his body for a bug out. If you fill up your pack with everything you need and don’t actually train yourself to carry it for long distances, it might not actually be worth anything at all to you, […]

How to Carry an Injured Person

There are many situations in survival, or even life in general, in which you might have to carry an injured person. Ambulances are simply not always going to be able to arrive right when and where you need them to, and you might find yourself at some point faced with the task of having to transport an injured or sick person for a bit of a distance. There are a few basic rules to learn if you want to do this effectively, and properly. First of all, you want to make sure that it is, in fact, your only option. […]

Hunting vs. Trapping for Survival

When you are in the position of needing to find, kill, and dress the meat for your next meal, the finer points of how you acquire this meat can make all the difference in the world. There are several different ways of catching and killing meat that have all been practiced in some form, across the world, since the beginning of our species. And they all have their pros and cons. The survivalist knows that it is always prudent to know a bit about these different methods of trapping and hunting animals, and it is certainly better to be prepared for […]

Survival News: Trump Tweets on Wiretapping

You have probably heard by now that over the weekend, President Trump tweeted that Obama had been wiretapping his campaign headquarters last year, right before the election in November. This caused quite a stir in the media, as you can imagine because of the accusation that a sitting president would wiretap a presidential hopeful are very grave indeed. Not to mention, not everyone was sure why Trump felt confident making such a bold statement when there doesn’t seem to be any indication of it. Remember Trump’s statement about Sweden? Well, in this case, it seems to be very similar. While […]

Sheltering Indoors in a Thunderstorm

When you think of natural disasters that can pose a threat to your life, you probably think of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. But regular old thunderstorms can also be quite dangerous. When a dangerous thunderstorm is headed towards your area, it will most likely be announced in your local weather alert system. You’ll want to get yourself indoors, to safety, and follow these basic steps for sheltering indoors. 1. Keep a weather app on your phone While these days, very severe weather warnings will often be broadcasted on all mobile devices in a given area, you still want to make […]

Safety Tips for Traversing Wet Ground

If you find yourself trekking across long distances or happen to be in a very wet environment, you might be faced with the difficult task of crossing very moist, muddy ground. Any veteran who’s been in a tropical battle zone can probably tell you how dangerous this ground can be. A muddy path doesn’t seem that serious to the untrained eye, but after you’ve been slogging through it for a bit, you don’t want to find out the hard way just what a challenge it can be. Dangers of wet ground First of all, very wet ground is unstable. You […]

The Reality of Living Off-Grid

If you’re a survivalist, prepper, or aspiring homesteader, one of your goals is probably to live off-grid. And it is certainly a wise goal to have; our global energy grids are growing increasingly precarious and connected to bigger and bigger networks, making them more likely to be shut down by events like a solar flare, EMP, or terroristic hacking. Not to mention, you probably get sick of shelling out high energy costs and taxes to large corporations of government entities, and want to be free and independent. Going off-grid is great, but are you sure you’re really ready for it? […]

Dehydrating Meals for Backcountry Camping (Video)

Dehydrating whole meals, as opposed to individual ingredients dehydrated in bulk, is a popular practice among survivalists and outdoorsmen alike, for good reason. You can pack up several individual meals all at once, and have a complete, balanced meal ready to eat and rehydrate. This video, made for the purpose of backpacking or camping, but easily applicable to survival prep as well, is an excellent overview of the whole process of dehydrating meals. He makes several dehydrated meals as an example, as well as provides an easy-to-follow set of instructions that you can use to apply to virtually any meal. […]

How to Identify Food-Grade Buckets

Storing survival food in buckets is a very great idea. They will keep your food protected from light, temperature, and moisture, and help to store them neatly and securely in your basement or garage. They have the added advantage as well of being able to be transported quickly and easily, should you have to evacuate your home. But, not all buckets are created equal. You might be tempted to use any bucket you have access too, especially those you can get for free. If you want your food to last, though, you’ll want to make sure you’re storing it in food-grade […]

Survival News: Loretta Lynch Calls for Violence?

Through all the chaos and upheaval in the wake of 2016 presidential election results, one theme has been constant: Democratic leadership feels quite the sense of urgency. We’ve been following the response to Donald Trump’s election and subsequent inauguration here simply because any whiff of civil unrest is something for survivalists to look out for. Whether you love Trump or hate him, voted Democrat or don’t vote at all, one thing seems to be clear: people are upset, scared, angry, and have been hinting at, if not outright calling for, violent resistance in the face of a Trump presidency. This […]

Natural Materials You Can Cook In

If you are stranded in the wilderness and manage to acquire some food and start a fire, you’ll need something to cook in. Here is a list of several materials you should look for that you can cook food in. Bamboo Bamboo is a wonderful all-purpose survival plant, and one of it’s many uses is that you can cook in it. You can do this by cutting off one enclosed segment of bamboo, big enough to fit your food or water in. Place this container near the fire but not actually on it, and let it heat up until it is […]

Finding Shelter: The Time Factor

When you are stranded in the wilderness or in some other survival situation, one of the most crucial components of finding adequate shelter is time. You need to base your decision on how much effort to put into your shelter on whether or not you have enough time to seek out shelter or build one. Here are some crucial components of the time factor when determining how to pursue shelter. Time of Day One of the most obvious time constraints to your need for shelter is going to be the time of day. If you have most of the day left for […]