Time for The Field of Kusa to; Listen

Throughout my time of doing stealth training I always found one sense extremely important and reliable, and that was sound. When trained correctly and diligently you can identify where a target is, whether you are being followed, and the sounds of nature both the norm and unfamiliar.

Recently my group and I have stumbled upon a deer corpse within the woods identifying that there was something to eat and remove these remains that are geographically close and native. I came to the conclusion that there are foxes in the area. Then the next session of training as it approached twilight we heard an odd sound, it was the sound of a fox doing it's consecutive barks. Personally I think it resembles the sound of a monkey call, but take this time to become familiar with the sounds of one of the creatures of the night. The Fox.

It's good to know the sounds of nature and how animals communicate with one another because that is when they will also be communicating with you, you just need to take the initiative and be aware.

Ninyaku （ににゃく）;Hey Guys! A Great Note For Outdoorsmen!! (Poison Ivy)

First of all Poison Ivy is a plant that is very common to many areas. It is heaviest in areas of forest where there is a sharp edge, which means people have severely disrupted that area of the forest and on the edge of the forest before it reaches where people disturbed it by clearing a trail or something of the sort is where it tends to be a lot. It has 3 leaves of green, leaves of 3 let it be, and those three leaves have an oil on it that when introduced to the skin can cause severe rashes that are itchy and annoying. It can also come in the form known as Monkey's Tail because it tends to be a vine that creeps up trees and has tons of attachments to the tree and when the leaves drop off during fall it resembles the tail of a monkey.

So how do we fight it? Well of course you can go to the local pharmacy and buy ointments and such to aid in removing the itching sensation and helping the blisters dissipate, but how can we handle this on the front lines in the woods? I have two answers!

1) This is my favorite and most convenient method! Mud and dirt, apply mud to the point of contact and the mud will help absorb and dry the oils from the skin as it dries out, and with it being cool it helps relieve the itch. I have personally been exposed to poison ivy in the form of monkey's tail on multiple occasions out in the forests at night and when I apply dirt from a few inches deep in the soil once I noticed I made contact it prevented a breakout from even happening. 

2) The second way that I know I've been told at my job at a Nature Center multiple times but have yet to try it. This method is to utilize a counter plant known as Jewelweed. 

Jewelweed is a plant with slightly round rigged edges and is very common at the banks of creeks, I have been told the best way to identify is to take a leaf and put it under the water and as light hits the leaf it will sparkle. To utlize the jewel weed to counter poison ivy though you take a stem and cut it open and apply the juices from it to the affected area, and the juices from crunched leaves. Jewelweed can help other small things too such as bug bites and cuts and such. 

If you have more information that you would like to share remember you are in the field of the Kusa we are waiting for more.