I now have enough experience with shifting to make a list on the dangers of the outdoors! This isn't everything you could encounter, but this is a pretty good basics list for anybody wondering about the dangers of being out in nature as a shifter (or even as a human!)

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This list isn't supposed to make you anxious or paranoid by any means, but is supposed to warn you about the potential dangers outside and how to handle them. The chances that you'll get lost or stuck out in the wild are small, but it's good to know what to do if something like that were to happen.

 

• Tell people where you'll be. Don't go out in secret. You don't have to tell people not in the know, but you shouldn't be sneaking out without telling anybody where you'll be. If something were to happen to you you'd want someone to alert the authorities early and fast, and sneaking out without telling anybody works against you. Tell a shifter friend, tell a human friend you'll be exploring X area, but regardless of who you tell let someone know where you'll be.

• Take note of your surroundings. When outdoors and in an isolated area, try to make a mental note of where you are and who's around you. Don't tune everything out, especially when you're exploring a new area for the first time. Pay special attention to odd parts of the landscape that stick out - if you get lost you can use these things to help you get back to where you started.

• It can help to learn about the native plants and wildlife in your area. You don't need to become an expert (unless you want to) but knowing about what is growing all around you can help you navigate your surroundings with ease. This information can be useful even on quick journeys, and help you identify when you're near dangerous animals, plants or landscapes.

• Avoid suspicious individuals. Some people have bad intentions in isolated areas. If someone appears to be acting a little too interested in you for no apparent reason, appears to be coyly following you or seems to be trying to herd or lure you someplace, head back to an area with people and get out of there.

• Carry backup. It can be dangerous in heavily forested, isolated or wooded areas, especially if you're a visible minority. When traversing these areas you should always have some sort of backup defense or weapon, just in case. This may seem silly, because if you're a shifter shifting should be enough to stop someone... but you don't want to only rely on shifting to protect you. After all, a human can still overtake most animals provided they have the right weapons.

• This also goes for tools and necessities. Bring a backup charger for your phone if you're going to be out most of the day. Bring food and snacks if you're trekking somewhere new. Keep a swiss army knife on hand. You don't need to pack like you're going to climb mountains, but you should have the appropriate backup supplies should something go wrong that day.

• When in the forests as a human, wear orange. Animal hunters (such as trophy and food hunters) often camouflage themselves within the surroundings, which can put you at risk if you're also sneaking around the area. When shifting in a hunter-filled area, wear something orange (whether a collar, bandana, or a vest) so hunters can see you and avoid you. Even if you look like an animal, an orange piece of clothing surrounding you will let them know that you're associated with humans in some way and shouldn't be killed.

• You can follow this rule as an animal, but note that it may look odd depending on what you are and where you live - a wolf with orange on won't attract much attention in Canada, but a cheetah might, and may get reported as a possibly escaped exotic pet. Be careful with how you go about this while physically shifted.

• When stuck, call for help. Got stuck in a trap? Lost and need assistance? If you can, call for help. If you have your phone on hand, use it. If not, call out for someone or wait for someone to come and find you.

• When lost you should try to stick to a particular area until help arrives. Don't go wandering off when people could be searching for you- you could be delaying your chances of being found. Make a shelter out of whatever is available to you, and be particular about what you eat, if you eat anything wild. Meat should be properly cleaned and cooked well to reduce the chances of food poisoning or parasites, and you should only eat plants you know for sure won't poison you.

• If shifting to catch food, be very careful about how you do it. Remember, animals often get hurt or injured when hunting, so if you must hunt choose weak prey. Try to avoid carrion unless necessary, as that also caries a risk of disease. If you must scavenge, look for something recently killed. If you're grazing, make sure to pick flora that seems healthy - many places that seem clean can be teeming with all sorts of pathogens or human chemicals, and some plants may be toxic to shifters.

• If you're not too lost or must wander off, use your animal senses to help you find civilization. Odd, out of place smells or sounds may be indicative of industries or people being nearby. Don't disregard human pollution - if you see more bottles, trash, or discolored water near one place than another, that is a good sign that humans frequent that area, and by following the trash trail you can get back to society.

• Lastly, if you are lost don't stress out. Stress can weaken your immune system and ruin your motivation to escape your situation. Don't focus on the negatives, keep a positive attitude and take things one step at a time.

 

I hope these tips can help any shifters nervous about exploring the outdoors, or wondering how to survive if they need to. Stay safe out there!