DON'T BE A DOOFUS! If the birds can eat it, you can too, right? WRONG!

DON'T BE A DOOFUS!

If the birds can eat it, you can too, right?

Wrong. Dead wrong, in some cases.

NOTE: "Don't Be A Doofus" Is a series I've been doing for a year or two now to teach people what not to do when going off grid. Too many people with absolutely ZERO outdoor experience (and many people who should know better) are all over the internet spreading DANGEROUS misinformation and scientifically inaccurate information that could make people sick or get them killed. This series and the Doofus comic and character I created is a tongue-in-cheek way to poke fun at the uneducated fools out there who are spreading bad information and get them to pull their heads out of their asses, while also teaching all the good folks how to survive in the wilderness and on their off grid homestead. 

Just because you see an animal eating or drinking something doesn't mean it's safe for human consumption. You could get sick or die if you eat or drink the wrong thing. This isn't about your pride or ego, don't let your pride get you killed. Many people have, don't become a statistic.

If an animal eats or drinks something don't think that you can.

Birds, deer, raccoons, and bears (every animal) all have digestive systems built differently than yours. What passes through them without a problem can put you flat on your back, or worse. 

Animals also have generations of exposure and instinct working in their favor. You have a hungry stomach and a hunch. That is not a fair or smart trade.

The rule is simple. If you cannot identify a plant with absolute certainty, down to the species, you do not eat it. Not a taste. Not a nibble. Not "just a couple to see what happens." Watching an animal eat something is not is not a sign you can eat it too.

Learn the plants in your area before you ever need them. Carry a regional guide. Get hands-on training if you can. And when you are out there and something looks close enough, remember that close enough is how people end up on their knees in the dirt losing everything they had left in their gut.

When in doubt, go without.

Stay safe out there.

Don't be a Doofus!