Katherine’s Nature Tips

During quarantine I became interested in bears and how my father grew up on the western slope of Colorado. With this came questions regarding what he learned in school since he didn’t grow up like I did, in suburbia. He learned survival skills like how to send smoke signals, woodworking, skiing, hunting, finding water, and etcetera. This peaked my interest and I researched more about these survival skills, so here are two that I feel pretty well versed in. Please keep in mind I’m not an expert or liable if you get hurt.

Finding Water

This tip I actually got to use recently, so that’s exciting! It’s very important to find clean water because of the plethora of dangerous diseases and bacteria that can be found and make you sick. Ideally you should purify it, but if you can’t and you need to find water this what you need to do. First you need to find a water source (duh) in an isolated area (away from population and grazing animals) at a high elevation. Ensure it flows downward and at a quick rate (not too quick though you don’t want to drown), never drink still water. Notice what color the moss by the water source is. If it’s brown do not drink, if it’s green that should be more safe. Also remember just because an animal is drinking it does not always mean it’s safe for you. Fill your bottle up in the middle of the water and at the top layer of the water. Ideally, you should also now what’s upstream. I neglected that step and later found out a retired lead mine was upstream. So, I might’ve consumed some lead, but I mean the romans consumed lots of lead before something happened. Once again, it’s best to purify your water. While, this technique greatly reduces chances of getting a parasite or harmful bacteria it doesn’t eliminate it. I followed this and I still consumed a parasite (lol, no joke, but it is funny). I get to find out what parasite it is later this week, but my doctor thinks it’s Giardiasis, which is rare in America! So, anyways that’s how you find safe water to drink in nature, but be cautious!

Fending off a Bear 🐻 

Unfortunately, I've never gotten to try this one out. However, I always hope I'll run into one so I can try this out. I got interested in fending off a bear after learning about bears during quarantine and reading bear attack stories. So, if you’re in search of a new bear attack story I recommend this article, The Man Who Killed Colorado's Last Grizzly Bear. Now, Ed knows how to fend off a bear! Anyways you stumble across a bear and it doesn’t see you STAY CALM and leave quickly! If it sees you STAY CALM, walk backwards slowly because you cannot outrun a bear, have firm and calm conversation with the bear. If it stands up it’s just curious. If it slaps the ground or huffs it feels threatened and is more angry. If it’s more angry make yourself look bigger and use a deterrent like bear spray. However, you need to be close to use bear spray. If the bear charges it might bluff charge and bail at the last moment. If it attacks get into the fetal position to protect organs and your hands behind your head. STAY CALM and quiet! This will work for a grizzly bear, but black bears aren’t tricked by playing dead. The attack may stop as it doesn’t see you as a threat anymore. However, if it continues to attack fight back! Use a weapon or kick the bear by its nose. Hopefully, it will retreat and you can leave safely to get help.

Anyways, I hope these tips are helpful and entertaining to read! Please keep in mind I’m not an expert, so don’t sue me! Also the photos of Ed Wiseman and the Grizzly Bear are not mine, but instead the Durango Heralds. The water photos are mine though.

God Bless!