Recognize these warning signs of potentially poisonous creatures. Avoid those that
» are very hairy
» are brightly colored
» give off a strong odor
» sting or bite
» may carry diseases from parasites such as flies, mosquitoes, and ticks
» move very slowly and out in the open. Poisonous creatures are not afraid
because they know they are poisonous!Though generally you should stay away from poisonous creatures,
there are some that you can eat, provided you remove their dangerous bits.
In the desert, I survived almost exclusively on scorpions. Once I cut away
the stinger, they tasted like shrimp. Of course you’ll have to consult a local
expert beforehand, as attempting to eat something known to be poisonous
should only be a last resort.
If you lack the knowledge, perform an edibility test on anything you
suspect might make you sick.
Gathering and Catching Critters
Many edible creatures, such as frogs and snakes, prefer damp, dark places
like rotting logs and rock crevices. Just make sure you don’t shove your
hand into one of these places without first inspecting it.
If you’re close to a body of water such as a lake, you have only to sit by
the shore to see how many critters there are. For example, you may see a dozen
or more leeches swim by in a matter of minutes; reach down and scoop them
out. They do taste better cooked, by the way—kind of like little anchovies.
When I was in the Kalahari Desert, I trapped dozens of scorpions
with something akin to a bottle trap. All I did was dig a little hole about an
inch (2.5 cm) from the scorpion hole and drop a jar into it. When a scor
pion came out of its hole, it would fall into the jar and get stuck.
Cooking and Preparing Critters
The safest way to eat critters is to cook them first, since this kills the para
sites carried by many, particularly those with a hard outer shell.
First you should get rid of as much waste as possible. This means elim
inating the entrails or squeezing out the waste, provided you know where the
(^186) | Survive!