More Gifts For The Nature Lover In Your Life | Phillip Elden

Phillip Elden recently made a list of his favorite gifts for nature lovers. Today, he continues this list for those looking for a last-minute present to present to the outdoorsy folks on their list. 

 

Carhartt Beanie 

 

The Watch hat by Carthartt is one of the most easily recognizable gifts, and it’s also the most practical. For around $20 online or your local sporting goods store, you can keep your friends stylish, warm, and happy as they adventure outdoors. 

 

Portable Hammock 

 

There are few things more relaxing to Phillip Elden than sleeping under the stars suspended in your very own cocoon. A portable camping hammock is the ideal gift for those who like to stay out overnight. Starting at around $20 online, camping hammocks are extremely lightweight and can be strung between two sturdy trees anywhere in the world. 

Phillip Elden: What’s For Dinner In The Wild?

If you live anywhere in Oregon, you have access to a bounty of free food for the taking. According to conservation specialist Phillip Elden, the public lands of his home state are rich with everything from pineapple weed to bitter crest to dandelions. 

 

Miner’s Lettuce 

 

Along the Oregon coast you’ll find miner's lettuce. This small leafy green, which is rich with vitamin C, was eaten more than 100 years ago by coastal miners. The vitamin C content helped these hard-working men and women avoid scurvy. 

 

Stinging Nettle 

 

Stinging nettle is not the first thing you might think of to put on your plate, says Phillip Elden. However, once you get past the poking spines, the leaves of this beautiful and lush plant are full of vitamins and minerals. Further, since nettle tastes a bit like spinach, it’s the ideal addition to your foraged salad. 

Phillip Elden On How To Handle A Snake Bite

Do you know what to do if you’re bitten by a snake? According to Phillip Elden, there is a way to handle it, and there are several things that you should not do. 

 

Phillip Elden explains that snakes can be either venomous or nonvenomous. Bites from either can cause swelling, bleeding, and an open wound that many people believe should be taken care of with a tourniquet. This is a mistake that may cause someone to lose a body part. Phillip Elden says that another mistake is trying to open the wound with a knife to remove the venom. This can cause or further an infection. Under no circumstances should someone try to suck the venom from an open wound; this only works in the movies. 

 

If possible, try and identify the snake. However, you should not try to pick it up or trap it as this can put you or other members of your party at immediate risk of an additional snakebite. Other things that you should avoid if you’ve been bitten by a snake are: 

• Immersing the wound in water. According to Phillip Elden, you should not put ice or water on snakebites. 
• Drinking alcohol to numb the pain. Alcohol can thin your blood, which can result in heavier bleeding. Further, drinking alcohol can numb the senses and slow your response time, meaning that you may be more injured than you realize. 
• Drinking caffeine. There is a good chance that your heart rate will already speed up if you’ve been bitten by a snake. This can be caused by venom or adrenaline. It’s best to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, which also increase your heart rate. 

Quit Feeding Ducks From Your Pantry

Oregon native and Native Oregon founder Phillip Elden says that ducks should never be fed bread. 

 

Kids across the country get excited every spring to throw breadcrumbs to their quacking little buddies. However, according to conservationist Phillip Elden, this can have negative consequences on ducks and their environment. 

 

While no one will dispute the deliciousness of warm toast, bread contains a high level of carbohydrates with very few nutritional elements. As such, when ducks are hand-fed bread more often than nutrient-dense options, their health can suffer. High levels of carbohydrates wreak havoc on avian digestive systems and can cause them to defecate more often. Unfortunately, added levels of stool on the ground can increase localized levels of avian botulism, which can cause death. 

How To Camp With Respect | Phillip Elden

Camping is one of the most popular pastimes in the United States (and throughout the world). However, not everyone fully understands camping etiquette. Today, Phillip Elden shares a few rules you should follow to be a good steward to the earth. 

 

Obey All Local Laws 

 

Just because you are off the grid does not mean that you are out of reach of local law enforcement agencies. You can’t do whatever you want, and theft, assault, vandalism, trespassing, and other crimes are still enforceable by the local municipality. 

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane

Look up in the sky, is it a bird or a plane, or is it both? Unfortunately, the answer is often both. According to Phillip Elden, birds and planes don’t mix, and every year pigeons, doves, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors are all at risk of a high-speed collision, and these midair mishaps can put humans in danger as well. 

 

Going back to as far as 1990, there were nearly 2000 bird strikes per year reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. Fast-forward to 2013, and there were nearly 10 times more. Airplanes are most likely to hit birds during migration season. July through October, birds and their young fledglings are often heading south. This high level of immature flyers is no doubt part of the problem. 

Phillip Elden Discusses Common Invasive Species

Oregon has thousands of unique animals, many of which have lived on the land as long as records have been kept and for many years prior. But according to conservation specialist Phillip Elden, many species have been introduced and take a toll on the natural flora and fauna. 

 

Q: Is the American bullfrog and Oregon native? 

 

Phillip Elden: While the American bullfrog is common in the United States, it is not an amphibian native to the region. Bullfrogs, which can grow to more than six inches in length and present with a brown and green pattern, are often released into the wild after being purchased as pets. While Oregon has many native frog species, the large and aggressive American bullfrog preys upon snakes, fish, small turtles, and even other frogs.