Need Water? Tips to Help You Find Water When You're Bugging Out

I think we all understand the importance of having enough water with us when we head to our bug out location. That said, the situation may arise where you find yourself in need of water.

Someone could spill their water or thieves may sneak in under the cover of darkness and steal your water. You may be forced to head out into the wilderness without gear. Or maybe you've just had to stay gone for longer than you expected.

Regardless of the reason, you need water and you need it now.

The following tips can help you find water when you need it most:

         Plan ahead. Start looking for water before you run out, not after. This will give you extra time to locate it and will make you less likely to make rash decisions.
         Look around you. Areas with dense green foliage or with a lot of trees may be areas where water is present.
         Listen for the sound of running water. If moving water is close-by, you'll be able to hear it. Stop every 5 minutes or so and just listen. You might hear something you wouldn't have heard while walking.
         Watch the wildlife in the area. Most animals need a source of water. Look for animals and birds and follow them to water. If you begin to notice a large number of animal tracks all headed in the same direction, these animal are probably headed to a watering hole. You may be able to get food and water at a community watering hole.
         If you notice an increase in the number of mosquitoes, you may be near water. Insects like mosquitoes lay their eggs in water and usually don't stray too far from where they hatched. A single mosquito or two probably don't mean much. An infestation probably means you're close to water. The problem with this kind of water is it's usually standing water and not very sanitary. Disinfect before drinking or you run the risk of getting sick.
         Muddy soil or sand indicates water beneath the soil. Dig a hole where it's damp and it'll probably slowly but surely fill up with water.
         If you're on higher ground, head to lower ground. Water drains to the lowest point in a given area. Work your way down to lower elevation areas to up your chances of finding water.
         Morning dew can be a vital source of water. Use a cloth to wipe the dew off of the plants it collects on, and then squeeze the cloth out into a container. You may be able to gather enough water to last you the rest of the day if you move quickly. To speed up the process, you can place a tarp under a small tree or bush with a lot of dew, and then vigorously shake the tree or bush. The dew will fall on the tarp, where it can more easily be collected.
         In the desert, try cutting the top off of a cactus and squeezing the water from the pulp. Don't eat the pulp itself; just squeeze the water out of it.

Here's another thing to remember. Trails typically lead to water. Well-worn paths are paths traveled by animals to get to water holes. Watch for converging paths and follow them in the direction in which they converge. This indicates different types of animals all heading in the same direction—toward water.

Birds head toward water in the early morning or late evening. Watch for birds circling overhead during the day. They may be circling over water. The exception to this rule is vultures circling over you. They're hoping you don't find water. Pigeons, ducks and grain eating birds need more water than meat-eating birds like hawks and crows.

Ants and bees both need water to survive. If you see bees in the area you're trekking through, there's probably a source of fresh water within a couple miles of the area. Ant trails can be followed to lead you to water too. If ants are crawling into a hole in a tree, try jamming a stick as far as you can into the hole. When you pull it out, check to see if it's wet. Water in a tree can be removed by siphoning it out or by pushing a rag into the hole so it can soak up the water.