It’s poison ivy season – but many people don’t know how to recognize this pesky plant, let alone remove it. Rashes can result from touching poison ivy (a.k.a. Toxicodendron Radicans) with bare skin. Those clearing out overgrown areas or weeding with bare hands or minimal protection should be careful.

Being able to identify poison ivy is crucial and is often confused with other plants. To spot poison ivy, look for compound leaflets that are two- to four inches long with pointed tips and a dull or glossy finish. The middle leaf is usually bigger than the others on the left and right. The leaves can appear irregularly toothed, lobed, or smooth. Stems have alternate leaves with young oily or shiny foliage with a reddish color.

Poison ivy should not be touched or pulled. Instead, spray all foliage with a specially formulated herbicide. Do not spray the weed killer on other plants, as it will also damage or kill them. To protect plants, you wish to survive, cover them with plastic bags while you spray the poison ivy. After the leaves wither and die, they can still cause rashes, so handle with layered gloves.

For poison ivy growing in trees or twisted throughout landscape shrubs, cut the vine as close to the ground as possible and treat the stump with herbicide. The root system will die, causing the rest of the vine to shrivel up as well. This method can be used any time during the year.

Check your neighbor’s landscape for poison ivy vines, which can spread seeds to your yard. If spotted, be vigilant and remove it immediately before it gets out of hand.

If you have come into contact with poison ivy and develop a rash, apply an over-the-counter Cortisone cream, poison ivy ointment, calamine lotion, etc. Try ingesting oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to ease your sleep and minimize swelling.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

Tornadoes can wreak havoc on property and life. Depending on your location, it’s essential to stay abreast of the weather and analyze whether a natural disaster is coming your way. Preparing for tornadoes is imperative to prevent loss of life.

Despite their imminent danger, tornadoes come with many myths associated with them – read on to learn more.

FICTION: You can outdrive a tornado
FACT: Tornadoes can travel more than 60 mph, and their 200 mph winds can lift cars with ease. 

FICTION: The best place for shelter is in your basement’s southwest corner
FACT: Tornadoes don’t know directions. Find a walled room without windows on the lowest level.

FICTION: Opening windows will depressurize the area
FACT: Depressurizing doesn’t work like that. Instead, move to the lowest floor and focus on protecting yourself from flying debris. 

FICTION: Freeway overpasses are the safest place to be while driving if near a tornado
FACT: Bridges and overpasses can collapse, create a wind tunnel, and let more debris hit your car. So, in fact, they increase your risk of danger. 

FICTION: Tornadoes cannot go through water, mountains, or big cities
FACT: The 1974 “Super Outbreak” of tornadoes near Cincinnati had wind speeds varying between 260 and 318 mph. Also, tall buildings do not affect a tornado’s path. 

FICTION: The tornado itself is the most dangerous aspect of the natural disaster
FACT: On the contrary. Wind speeds and secondary storms cause an incredible amount of flying debris. 

FICTION: Tornadoes only take place during the season
FACT:  Though most tornadoes form in the spring, many instances show that off-season tornadoes are just as destructive.

FICTION: People can see and hear tornadoes before they occur
FACT: Rain or clouds can obstruct your view, giving you less time to react. Check weather updates from the NOAA and know the difference between tornado watches and warnings. 

FICTION: Tornadoes never hit the same place twice
FACT: These natural disasters don’t have a schedule or comprehension of history. Three separate tornadoes hit the same place in Arkansas in one day. Also, Cordell, Kansas, was hit by a tornado on May 20th for three years in a row. 

FICTION: If a tornado isn’t headed in your direction, you are safe
FACT: Tornadoes can switch directions at any time, causing major unpredictability.

If you find yourself in a situation where tornadoes are near, protect your family and pets by doing the following: 

• Analyze your home and look for areas that can be susceptible to damage
• Maintain a clean landscape to avoid unnecessary flying objects
• Fill your emergency kit with things such as: 
  • Battery-operated radio
  • Extra batteries
  • Flashlight
  • Freeze-dried food
  • Blankets
  • First Aid kit
  • Medication
  • Important documents
• Have a safety plan detailing instructions for where and how your family will seek shelter
• Ensure your home insurance policy covers tornado damage
• Monitor local weather updates

If you are stockpiling supplies, look no further for the best products at low prices; Wolf Survival Gear has it all. Check out our website today to learn more.

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

It’s that time of year again…tick season. Ticks can be extremely dangerous and sometimes lethal. If you, a family member, friend, or pet get bitten by a tick, do you know the proper steps to take to ensure adequate removal, when to go to the doctor, and more? Read on to learn more.

Ticks are notoriously difficult to remove. It is best to pull upward with steady, even pressure using fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. If you twist or yank the tick, the mouth can break off and remain embedded. You can usually pry the remaining tick out with tweezers. After removing the tick, thoroughly wash the affected area, and save the tick or take a photo for identification by a healthcare professional if you happen to get sick later. 

If you find a tick latched on to a human or pet, tip a Q-Tip in liquid soap (Dawn, for example) and start making small circles around the tick. The soap suffocates it, so they immediately let go of the skin and can be removed effortlessly.  

Never use petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or a hot match to remove ticks from the skin. 

Ticks are seemingly impossible to smash under your shoe. The best way to rid them is by flushing them down a toilet, trapping them in a piece of tape, or burning them. Just because you remove them from your skin does not mean they will refrain from biting someone else. 

Ticks tend to migrate to the scalp or furry areas where they can hide well. It’s imperative to check your scalp regularly for ticks if you’ve been outside or spotted them on a companion.

If you aren’t completely able to remove the tick, a rash develops, flu-like symptoms appear, the bite becomes infected, or a deer tick bit you, you should seek medical attention immediately. 

Though most tick bites are painless and only cause minor symptoms, they can be deadly and should not be taken lightly. 

Whenever you are in the woods or within grassy outdoor areas, protect yourself by using sprays such as Cedercide, which help prevent bites naturally, without chemicals. 

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

Wild mushrooms are popping up everywhere around this time of year. While some are edible, most are toxic and can make you sick. In emergency situations, mushrooms can mean life or death for survival. 

The best way to enjoy wild mushrooms is to handle and cook them thoroughly because certain mushrooms raw can cause gastric distress. Also, some people have allergies or intolerances to specific types of mushrooms. For these reasons, wild mushrooms should initially be consumed with caution. 

Toxic mushrooms range from “deadly poisonous” to “occasional gastric distress” in terms of how they affect humans. Several mushroom species are extremely deadly since symptoms do not develop until six to 36 hours following ingestion. The only remedy for those situations is a stomach pump. 

Some mushrooms can also cause allergic-type of reactions, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, kidney failure, or cause hallucinations. 

To avoid mushroom poisoning, follow the steps below: 

• Never eat any mushroom unless you are absolutely sure it is safe.
• Do not eat raw mushrooms; always cook thoroughly.
• When consuming a new mushroom variety, start small and wait several hours for a potential reaction.
• Some mushrooms react with alcohol so avoid drinking while eating mushrooms.
• Save a tiny portion of each mushroom you consume to ensure medical staff can identify it and treat you accordingly in case you get sick.
• Never eat inedible mushrooms,

Once you have thoroughly verified that the mushroom is safe for consumption, start collecting. You can dry them for later or enjoy them after cooking. Mushrooms are nutritious and delicious. Enjoy!

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com. 

We’ve all heard of unexpected situations that require survival skills, but what is survival, exactly? Survival is the act of continuing to live or exist in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. Often, it involves overcoming challenges, beating unimaginable odds, and championing through overall grueling situations. 

Without a doubt, the most imperative tool to withstand stress during emergencies is maintaining the proper mindset. 

Besides obvious factors such as being physically strong, one’s reaction to stress or their ability to handle fear in emergency situations can result in either life or death. Positive psychological responses to stress are pivotal in maintaining survivalist attitudes. 

Since all emergency situations are unplanned, keeping a calm, steady mindset is important for increasing one’s chances of survival. Improvisation is key, and a negative or defeatist attitude can bring down specific individuals as well as the entire morale of a group. 

Being stubborn or having a strong will can be helpful in situations requiring that “fight or flight” attitude. Conquering obstacles and moving toward an end goal of survival rather than defeat or exhaustion is necessary for persisting. 

While in emergency situations, numerous problems will arise that will undoubtedly require a bit of problem-solving. Rather than succumbing to failure, always consider your safety. Analyze all the enemies in the situation, such as loneliness, fatigue, pain, cold/heat, hunger/thirst, etc. and develop a plan of action accordingly, without emotion.

Trying to stay logical rather than emotional is always preferred during emergency situations. Recognizing your fear is also an essential factor, but remember a more dangerous enemy than fear is panic. An uncontrolled urge to run or escape from a situation is generally triggered by the mind while experiencing stress. Panic can lead to exhaustion, injury, or death.  

The best way to minimize panic and stay calm is to think rationally, stay logical, assess the situation from an outside perspective, and maintain positive thinking. 

You’ve got the survival mindset; how about the survival gear? Find everything you need in our online shop. Check it out today.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com. 

Water is vital for life: not just ours, but for plants and animals, too. In survival situations, water is critical to locate and stockpile, as it is one of our most basic necessities. In circumstances where clean, running tap water is not available, it’s necessary to gather emergency water and have a plan of action.  

Before you scoff and say, “I have plenty of bottled water,” hear us out. Bottled water isn’t adequate; it will eventually run out much faster than anticipated. Water is used for drinking, yes, but it’s also used in cooking, hygiene, and more. There is a solution to replenishing your water supply…read on for the list.

1. Containers: buckets, pails, pans, etc., are wonderful for trapping and storing emergency water. In an open area, place the container outside while it rains to collect fairly clean, drinkable water. After collecting the water, ensure the container can be tightly sealed to prevent contamination. 

2. Umbrellas: in lieu of a hard container, flip an umbrella upside-down and gather rainwater that way. You can either use it as a funnel to point toward the container or into another vessel, such as a plastic bag or a more flimsy material that wouldn’t stand up on its own to collect water. 

3. Whole-House System: built into a home’s gutters, these systems utilize the large surface area of the roof to collect huge amounts of rainwater in a short period. Rain barrels are popular for whole-house water collection and require little- to no maintenance.

4. Melt Ice or Snow: if you look up to the sky and see snowflakes instead of raindrops, have no fear, you can still gather potable water. Collect ice or snow in clean containers and bring them inside to melt. 

5. Bodies of Water: seek out rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, or other large bodies of water to gather emergency hydration. Ensure you use water filter systems to remove contaminants, as water that has already hit the ground can be tainted with dissolved solids and harmful microbes. 

Ready to start collecting emergency water? The earlier, the better. When prepping for any emergency, water should be at the top of your list. It’s undoubtedly an essential aspect of survival, so make sure you know where you’re going to get it from if need be. 

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Are you looking for water supplies? Check out our water gear to keep you and your family hydrated during emergencies.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information. 

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com. 

Due to concerns over the crisis in Ukraine, Europeans are flocking to stores in droves to stock up on survival gear such as sleeping bags, camping cookers, canned, dehydrated, and freeze-dried food. Some of the purchases will be donated to Ukrainian refugees, while others are hoarded due to widespread fear of supply shortages or future conflict.

According to a spokesperson, in a Swedish hardware store, products such as plastic cans, camping gear, batteries, flashlights, solar chargers, etc., skyrocketed sixfold in the past two weeks.

The representative stated, “It’s clear that people want to be prepared for crises. The biggest increase is for products recommended to have at home during a crisis are radios.”

Grocery store sales noted an increase in purchases of milk powder, pasta, grains, and canned foods by more than 20 percent, according to Ica Gruppen, a Swedish grocer.

Various Ukrainian organizations are swooping up the products to send overseas, while some consumers are shopping for themselves.

Jimmy Bakker, an employee at Dumpstore Amsterdam, an outdoor supplier said, “When the war broke out, people were buying emergency blankets, emergency food rations, radios, and stoves. Last week, people rented vehicles, and they were going to drive to Ukraine to hand out there.”

Poland has taken in more than half of the three million Ukrainian refugees, and its convenience stores reflect the influx. The chain Zabka reported higher sales of canned goods, rice, groats, bottled water, etc., in certain regions.

Rossmann, a popular Polish drug store, has also been selling out of wet wipes, gels, soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, and the like.

175,000 Ukrainian refugees have been registered in Germany thus far, sparking sales of sleeping bags and mats from a popular sports chain called Decathlon.

Dimitar Margaritov, Chairman of Bulgaria’s Consumer Protection Commission, said, “We live in difficult times, but at the moment there is no room for panic.”

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Having a complete survival kit in your home can bring you peace of mind, but did you know your house already holds lots of life-saving tools? You’d be surprised just how valuable your everyday items can be in a pinch from the kitchen to the bathroom. So, if you want to be prepared for whatever comes next, let’s look at some common household items you can use for survival.

• Duct tape: As one of the most versatile tools, duct tape has countless uses. A person can repair clothing, structures, tools, and more. Another great use is to waterproof your shoes. Alternatively, you could use the tape as a rope or assist in building a shelter.

• Nail polish: Nail polish is a flammable product that can help you start fires quickly. A great alternative use can be to seal holes in tents and tarps or as paint to color-code your tools.

• Coconut oil: Self-care will still be necessary at the end of the world, and this is where coconut oil comes in. It can be used as a moisturizer for your skin or as an energy booster when you drink it. You can use it for cooking and healing small knicks and cuts.

• Dental floss: Dental floss is pretty strong and can be used in nearly any situation you would need string in a crisis. Use dental floss to create a fishing pole or tripwire. You can use it to tie items together or stitch up a wound.

• Pantyhose: A durable, stretchy, and lightweight material, pantyhose makes for a great food bag or fishing net.

• Salt: Use salt to preserve your food, melt snow, or help remove rust from pots and pans.

Unexpected emergencies can happen at any time and any place. Even the most well-prepared individual can find themselves without proper survival equipment. Adapting to the supplies you already have in your home with some basic survival knowledge can give you an advantage over others and could someday even save your life. 

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Disasters rarely come with prior warning to give people ample time to prepare for their impact. Being prepared for all kinds of disasters is essential to staying alive and well in their occurrence. With an increasing number of natural disasters, the pandemic, and the threat of war, more people are considering how to ready themselves for when the SHTF. While covering everything you would need to prepare would take books worth of explanation, here are some essential tips and concepts to help you get started.

So, what are the absolute basics of survival? They fundamentally revolve around staying fed, hydrated and warm.

Essential Gear

Whether a disaster would lead you to bunker up at home without electricity and gas or out in the wilderness somewhere, having the right gear is a necessity. Multi-purpose tools are handy equipment that can aid in various situations. Other essential survival gear includes a water filter or survival straw, flint for starting fires, camping gear, and lightweight cooking gear.

Get Familiar With DIY

Simply having the gear is not enough to get you through survival situations. It also helps to know how to use it for a wide range of needs. Getting familiar with outdoor DIY can increase your chances of survival by a large proportion. It might be helpful to read and learn more about creating make-shift shelters, building fires, and making effective animal traps.

Staying Warm

Whether at home or outdoors, staying warm is paramount to survival. Having a camping stove that can heat your house or campsite while also enabling you to cook would significantly contribute to your probability of survival in a dire situation. You might also consider insulating your home better or learning how to use blankets and other thick cloth items as insulation. As long as you have a way to heat water, hot water bottles can provide sufficient heating for one person, so it helps to have a few of them around.

Looking for long-term, freeze-dried food and other survival items? Check out our gear and supplies at Wolf Survival Gear.

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for all your prepping and survival needs. We are a trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website or e-mail us today for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Most flat tire or vehicle survival kits contain chemical roadside emergency flares. These invaluable additions are bold, bright, and noticeable in most emergencies, but what about rain?

The question of whether these flares are waterproof is a valid one. Thankfully, most roadside chemical flares are water-resistant. This means they will work if exposed to a drizzle of rain or a slight amount of water. However, if they are immersed in water, chemical flares will likely become destroyed or unusable.

Chemical flares are designed to function reliably, even when exposed to moisture. Since they are typically used all day or night, emergency flares are coated with a heavy wax silicone to prevent water from entering the casing and reaching the chemicals inside. Moisture exposure will deteriorate the flares’ ability to stay lit but shouldn’t put the fire out completely.

On the other hand, maritime flares are designed for wet or rough weather conditions, carried onboard boats or other ocean vessels. These flares can be dunked, soaked, or splashed (as long as it’s not for an extended period) and still be expected to function. As a bonus, they can be thrown onto the water’s surface while staying lit.

If fire is out-of-the-question, an increasingly popular flare alternative is battery-powered strobe lights. Though the batteries can deplete, most are designed with a rugged environment in mind. They are generally built to be water-resistant but can short-circuit if submerged in water.

 Glow sticks are another fireless option, which are nearly impenetrable by water. They are not as bright as fire flares or strobe lights, but they are still handy and come in various colors. Glow sticks are non-toxic, generate no heat, and are entirely safe for emergency use.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for all your prepping and survival needs. We are a trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website or e-mail us today for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.