Wilderness Survival & Edible Plants

The vast majority of campers, hikers, hunters, canoeists and other wilderness travelers will never find themselves in an extreme survival situation, but everyone should be aware for that contingency. Learning how to identify and gather edible wild plants is one way to prepare for such emergencies.

Fundamentals

Planning is one of the most important of survival fundamentals. Pack essential gear no matter what type of trip you are undertaking. Establish an itinerary and share it with friends and family before leaving. Be aware of basic first-aid and wilderness signaling techniques. Staying calm in high-pressure situations also is crucial.

Significance

Learn how to identify and harvest edible plants. Naturally, the abundance and diversity of palatable vegetation are well-known to indigenous hunting-and-gathering cultures for which plant foods often comprise--or at least historically comprised--a substantial portion of the diet. While water is always a more pressing concern in a survival scenario, knowing how to acquire food becomes more and more important the longer the situation persists.

Examples

In the United States, many common wild plants are edible. Watercress, which grows prolifically in freshwater ecosystems, often is sold in supermarkets as a foundation or supplement to salad dishes. It often persists as greenery through the winter, providing a valuable possibility for sustenance in cold, snowy months.

Wild berries are often some of the first edible plants to come to mind. Some, like huckleberries and blackberries, are delicious and sometimes very abundant. Visit a huckleberry patch in the Northern Rockies or Cascades in the late summer or early fall and you may be harvesting alongside hungry black bears.

The so-called “fiddleheads” of the widespread bracken fern--the young, growing shoots with coiled heads--are eaten both raw and cooked.

Warning

While wild edible plants can be lifesavers in extreme survival situations, their harvest should only be undertaken with a measure of caution. Some plants can provoke unpleasant, debilitating or dangerous symptoms if ingested. Species like poison oak, poison ivy and stinging nettle are widespread in much of the country and can cause significant rashes if you brush against them while foraging. Spend the time learning to accurately identify palatable and desirable species before it becomes a matter of life or death. Also keep in mind, especially when learning from others, that a plant consumable by one person may cause a different reaction in others. In a recreational situation, remember that picking vegetation may be illegal in certain areas, so check with the appropriate agency or landowner for regulations.

Learning More

There are plenty of resources to track down for those interested in gaining the knowledge and confidence to harvest edible plants. A whole library of edible-plant field guides can be assembled for certain areas, and even many general backpacking and outdoors books include sections on commonly encountered munchable greens. For greater depth, enroll in a reputable wilderness-survival or botanical class to get hands-on instruction.