How Long Do Firestarters Typically Last?

fire starting kit pouch with ferro rod and waterproof matches

One of the single most important resources you can have in a survival situation is fire, and when it comes to creating one, modern fire starters are indispensable. Extremely easy to carry, brutally simple, and capable of igniting in virtually all conditions, this is something that every prepared person should have with them or as … Read more

Taser Laws in Maryland: Legal or Not?

flag of Maryland

When it comes to self-defense, the default choices for most folks are either guns or pepper spray with very little in between. But it turns out there is a pretty good “in-between” choice in the form of a taser. It’s more decisive than pepper spray, but far less likely to result in a permanent injury … Read more

21 Famous Survival Experts You Should Know

man using a bow to hunt

Even in the world of survival, there are celebrities and legends. From legendary adventures and soldiers who overcame frankly unbelievable odds, to everyday people who found themselves embroiled in a fight for their very lives, the people on this list run the gamut when it comes to experience and expertise. Many are professionals who have … Read more

Badgers: Are They Dangerous?

badger

Badgers are virtually synonymous with tenacity, but are they dangerous? Most folks don’t know too much about badgers. These are interesting animals that are noteworthy for their intricate social and family units that form in the wild, and they’re also important game and fur animals that are harvested for their hair and for their meat. … Read more

Blue Jays: Are They Dangerous?

blue jay sitting on a branch

For most folks who live anywhere in the United States, the blue jay is a common sight in your yard. From the loud, screeching calls to their bully-like behavior at the bird feeder, these corvids are definitely unique and ubiquitous in their typical range. But these birds are also known to cause quite a commotion, … Read more

Chipmunks: Are They Dangerous?

chipmunk

It is hard to imagine any animal being less dangerous than a chipmunk. From their beautiful, striped fur to those adorably chubby cheeks that carry food back to their burrows, chipmunks are among the most charismatic rodents on Earth. Arguably it is only squirrels that have better publicity. They are so tiny and delicate, it’s … Read more

Opossum: Are They Dangerous?

opossum

If you’ve ever gotten a good look at those needle-sharp teeth, I don’t blame you for thinking possums are dangerous. I think everybody, especially people living in the South, have been surprised by them in the night: hanging out near the deck or popping out of the trash can. Those beady black eyes, the loud … Read more

Bighorn Sheep: Are They Dangerous?

bighorn sheep

Many domestic animals have diverged quite radically from their wild or ancestral counterparts. Let’s look at sheep, for instance. While it’s true that sheep can grow to be quite large and sometimes physically powerful, they don’t hold a candle to their wild cousins. In the United States and elsewhere in North America, bighorn sheep are … Read more

Beavers: Are They Dangerous?

beaver

There is no shortage of amazing animals out in the wild. Some look magnificent, some are physically impressive and others are ferociously vicious or incredibly venomous. But there are a few animals, only a few, capable of fundamentally changing the environment around them. Beavers are that animal. Even a single beaver is capable of turning … Read more

Moose: Are They Dangerous?

moose

There are all kinds of different deer species to be found around the globe, and many of them right here in North America. But standing over, literally and figuratively, the whitetails and elk on the continent we have the moose. Moose are the largest deer species in the world, and though they tend to keep … Read more

Deer: Are they Dangerous?

roe deer

Around the world, deer are among the most popular game species for hunters, and since their populations are so large and they can be found in so many biomes, they remain the quarry of choice for those hunting with guns or bows. This naturally leads to some consternation with animal lovers because deer are also … Read more

Raccoons: Are they Dangerous?

two raccoons on a wooden fence

There is hardly an animal out there that is more entertaining, and more charming, then the raccoon. Or rather, there are plenty charming as long as you aren’t the one enduring their attention! Raccoons are notorious for breaking into garbage cans, outbuildings and sometimes even homes in their never-ending quest for food and nesting areas. … Read more

Owls: Are they Dangerous?

owl flying

All birds of prey are majestic. Whether it is a hawk, a falcon, an eagle or some other species there is just something about the image of a predator taking prey on the wing that stirs the spirit. However, as capable as these birds are all of them play a distant second fiddle to the … Read more

Foxes: Are they Dangerous?

The fox is regarded as a trickster, a livestock predator and a symbol of cleverness and cunning in virtually every culture around the world where these animals are found. That’s for good reason, and there are few wild animals that are as evasive as foxes. But as human settlements expand, foxes are seen in increasing … Read more

Black Bears: Are they Dangerous?

black bear

Out of all the bears that you might encounter in North America, it is the black bear, the smallest of the North American bears, that you are likely to run into. Black bears are crafty, curious, and commonly encountered in and around towns and homes when searching for food. Although their antics can be amusing, … Read more