The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, growing feral pig populations.

Feral Pig Crop Damage: $1.6 Billion

MarketIntel reports: Feral Hogs vs. Farmers: The Damage Price Tag. Here is an excerpt:

“Feral hogs are a highly adaptable and invasive species that have been found in more than 35 U.S. states. With reproductive rates that allow populations to double in as little as four months, their geographic range and damage footprint grow rapidly without intensive eradication efforts. These animals cause extensive harm to agriculture by consuming and uprooting crops, degrading pastureland, damaging fences and infrastructure and directly impacting livestock — including through predation on newborn animals and competition for feed and water. They also pose serious disease transmission risks to both domestic livestock and wildlife.”

South Carolina’s Wild Pig Population is Exploding

South Carolina’s Wild Pig Population Has Spread Into All 46 Counties And The Numbers Are Disturbingly High.

Bird Flu Outbreak Near Wisconsin Lab

Reader D.S.V. sent us this: Bird flu outbreak near Wisconsin lab raises gain-of-function concerns.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger . . . they are driven by greed, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor.  …They ravage, they slaughter, they seize by false pretenses, and all of this they hail as the construction of empire. And when in their wake nothing remains but a desert, they call that peace.” – Tacitus, Roman senator and historian

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — January 21, 2026

On January 21, 1789, the first American novel, “The Power of Sympathy” by William Hill Brown was published by Isaiah Thomas.

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January 21, 1974: The price of gold hit a record $161.31, and silver hit $3.97 per Troy ounce, in London.

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A USB Archive Stick Update: At last count, we had just 62 of the standard waterproof 2005-2025 SurvivalBlog archive USB sticks still available to order. And all of the sticks in the limited edition keepsake tins sold out in the first two weeks of January. The mailings of both types should begin on Friday. They will be mailed in the same sequence that the orders were placed. (Starting with order number 205771.)  We should be caught up on mailings by the end of February. Thanks for your patience. – JWR

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

The Elenco AM/FM-108CK Radio Kit – Part 2, by Mike in Alaska

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

C45 INSTALLED UNDER PCB (LEFT) IC1 SOCKET PINS IDENTIFIED (RIGHT)

There will be many other such steps in this process, so I’m now going to fast forward to pages 9 through 14 after completing all the installation of parts in those pages and report on the tests that are part of the process up to that point. (NOTE: the top of page 12 indicates that if you don’t have the audio generator and the oscilloscope to skip to part 1B) I chose to do the tests and report my findings for the readers knowledge and discuss why the tests are pertinent to those completing the course as an educational directed effort.

(NOTE: Pay very close attention when you install C44 and R45. I will not tell you why, but should you choose not to, you will eventually be scratching your head and maybe wondering why the magic smoke escapes …)Continue reading“The Elenco AM/FM-108CK Radio Kit – Part 2, by Mike in Alaska”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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At Instructables: A Simple Trash Can Faraday Cage.

o  o  o

A useful article that was originally posted in 2016 and updated in 2024: Proper underground propane tank installation.

o  o  o

Why Does So Much of America Look the Same Now? (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.)

o  o  o

How to Activate Starlink Service Without a Smartphone.

o  o  o

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — January 20, 2026

On January 20, 1801, John Marshall was appointed as the Supreme Court’s first  Chief Justice.

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January 20, 1921: The Republic of Turkey was declared from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.

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On January 20, 1981, 52 American hostages were released by the Iranian government, following 444 days of captivity, to be reunited with their families. Not coincidentally, Ronald Reagan was sworn in is President, the same day.

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Today is also the birthday of Congressman Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794.)

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

The Elenco AM/FM-108CK Radio Kit – Part 1, by Mike in Alaska

Disclaimer: I bought this kit and built it for the purpose of sharing the knowledge and skills you may obtain from the kit if you choose to build one. Elenco has not sponsored this activity and did not contribute financially to this effort.

I want to point out up front that this is not just a project build kit, it is a full-blown course in radio theory, electronics education, and a fun opportunity to build your skill set. The “Builders Manual” is in reality a course in electronic theory, assembly, and testing. It has much to learn so this is not an easy course if you are a beginner, however even as a beginner, you can do well if you wish to apply yourself and learn. It is a course where anyone who can read, and comprehend what they are reading, will become proficient in electronics theory and application.Continue reading“The Elenco AM/FM-108CK Radio Kit – Part 1, by Mike in Alaska”

SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest.

Send Your Media Links

Please send your links to media from the American Redoubt region to JWR. Any photos that are posted or re-posted must be uncopyrighted. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“I love long-range rifle shooting. I like anything that deals with precision. I also find that with archery. On my ranch, I have my own range with 3-D targets of animals and hay bales from different distances.” – The Late Paul Walker

Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 19, 2026

On January 19, 1937, Howard Hughes set a transcontinental flight record of 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

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January 19, 1810: On “Cold Friday”, the temperature at Portsmouth, New Hampshire dropped from 54°F to minus 12°F in one day, and many people were reported frozen to death.

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This is also the birthday of the late Carla Emery (born 1939, died October 11, 2005). She is well known in self-sufficiency circles as the author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living.

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There were two large solar flares yesterday (Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.)  One of them was a category X1.9 Earth-facing CME flare of long duration. Its duration could cause much more disruption than is usually associated with an X1.9. So this is a good time to tuck away any of your spare electronics in Faraday cans. Watch for some possible Northern Lights tonight and Tuesday night. – JWR

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 122 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $978,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 122 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

EZARC ARC-Edge Reciprocating Pruning Blade, by Thomas Christianson

The EZARC ARC-Edge Reciprocating Pruning Blade is designed to make a Sawzall or similar reciprocating-blade-saw into a pruning tool.

The 15-inch, chrome-vanadium-steel blade has an aggressive tooth design optimized for pruning with five teeth per inch. A shorter 12-inch version is also available.

I tested the 15-inch version. Based on my testing, I would suspect that the shorter 12-inch version would work better than the 15-inch version. The extra length of blade that extends beyond the object being cut tends to whip violently to the left and right as the blade moves backward and forward. This creates extra friction, vibration, and blade fatigue without contributing anything to the cutting process.

At the time of this writing, a pack of three blades of either length cost $29.97 at ezarctools.com . The blades are made in Mainland China.Continue reading“EZARC ARC-Edge Reciprocating Pruning Blade, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: 

The following delicious recipe for Smothered Chicken is from The New Butterick Cook Book, copyright 1924, now in the public domain. That is just one of the dozens of bonus books included in the 2005-2025 20th Anniversary Edition of the waterproof SurvivalBlog Archive USB stick that is now available to order.

Ingredients
  • 2 small chickens or 1 large one
  • 2 or more tablespoons butter
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Flour
Directions

Take off the neck and split the chicken down the back, wiping it with a damp towel. Season inside and out with salt and pepper, and dredge on all sides with flour. Lay the chicken, with the inside down, in a small baking-tin, and add a very little water. The pan should be very little larger than the chickens, otherwise the gravy will be too quickly evaporated. Cook slowly for one hour, basting every ten minutes after the first twentv minutes, or cook in a covered baking-pan.

Should the chicken be decidedly lacking in fat, add butter or. butter substitute. There will be plenty of gravy in the pan with which to baste, if the pan is small. When done, place the chicken on a hot platter, add enoueh water to make two cups gravy and thicken with two tablespoons of flour. Should the chicken be quite fat, remove all but two o of the oil from the pan before making the gravy. Season with sait and pepper, pour it over the chicken and serve at once.

Any small birds may be dressed in this way with the most satisfactory results. The secret of success in this kind of roasting lies in very frequent basting and in not having too hot an oven.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Countries from which the U.S. resident visa applications will be paused, starting January 21, 2026. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

News Link: Visa processing from 75 countries will be paused, citing the Donald Trump administration’s desire to “end the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people.”

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.