The German influencers Otto Karasch And Fabio Schaefer have done it: their big YouTube adventure in the Canadian wilderness is currently on everyone’s lips.
In fact, they achieved a truly surprising success with “Survival Squad.” The episodes published so far have thrilled an audience of millions.
The project offers everything “7 vs. Wild” used to be. It’s a diamond in the rough in the YouTube universe, implemented by two passionate creators who maintain their authenticity despite annoying product placement.
Please note: the article contains spoilers!
“Survival Squad” offers the best entertainment and fascinating insights into the harsh nature of the Northwest Territories.
If you’re not familiar with the format yet, it’s definitely worth checking out, just for the nature photos. But the series also offers exciting moments. This doesn’t mean the completely over-the-top cliffhangers at the end of the episodes and the borderline clickbait titles.
Unfortunately, the two adventurers to whom we owe the wonderful videos do not convince with their behavior in the wild. On the contrary: Otto and Fabio stand out with chilling mistakes.
What is certain is: The two entertainment professionals are revered as heroes by parts of the public and have a role model function that should not be underestimated. If they do something dangerous or stupid on camera, it can have major consequences for unsuspecting imitators.
Below we look at the worst mistakes and see how to behave correctly.
We start with the elephant in the room, or rather the grizzly that supposedly wanted to attack the adventurers. The spectacular incident takes place in episode 3. While Fabio and Otto want to cross a wide riverbed, the predator approaches them from the other side.
Then suddenly everything happens very quickly: because the bear trotting through the riverbed does not respond to calls, Otto fires a “warning shot” with his rifle. The screenshot above shows the exact moment before the shooting takes place. Meanwhile, the animal is in the center of the red circle.
In a reaction video, Otto later admits that the alleged bear attack was “very wild.” And then he tells us about a caribou that was in the riverbed. And the bear probably ran after this prey, which they did not see at first.
Regarding Otto’s “warning shot” the following should be noted:
No wonder wild speculation arose afterwards. Some members of the public even suspected that the bear had been shot and that there was now a cover-up.
During the trip, Otto carries a Ruger M77 Mark 2 rifle in the American hunting caliber .30-06 Springfield. And Fabio carries a 12/76 caliber pump-action shotgun, unfortunately without a carrying strap.
PS: Biologist and outdoor YouTuber Ben Tüxen (“EinMannimWald”) points out that large pepper sprays can also be used in Canadian bear areas to keep overly curious animals at bay. The use of firearms should be limited to real attacks.
Things break. Usually at the dumbest time. For example, if you are at the start of a long adventure and cannot easily return to civilization. Why Otto and Fabio do not have a repair kit (patches) with them is beyond the knowledge of the editor writing here. One thing is certain: you can use a suitable repair kit for everything (sleeping mats, inflatable boats, etc.). And it only weighs a few grams, which is definitely worth it!
Otto and Fabio too: “Let’s take bones that smell like decay.”
Okay, this is where expert opinions differ.
What advantages Otto and Fabio have: They travel as a couple, so they can intervene in an emergency. For example, if your partner falls into the river, hits his head on a stone and floats away unconscious.
Canada has suffered a series of wildfires this year. They started in March and spread rapidly from May onwards, encouraged by drought, heat and the knock-on effects of climate change. Almost all provinces and regions of the huge country were affected, as the participants of ‘7 vs. Wild’ had to discover: they were only allowed to light a fire in a ‘bushbox’, a piece of steel cube that can be connected together.
Interestingly enough, Otto and Fabio also have a ‘hobo cooker’ with them. They use this to fry fish. To warm themselves and drive away the many mosquitoes, they light fires on the forest floor without further preparation. This is extremely negligent, especially on densely vegetated, dry ground.
The Fire Prevention Advice Center (BFB) warns:
It makes sense to have one safe fire pit to set up:
Mushrooms are great. But in a survival situation they are not worth it, as the risk assessment shows:
And then there is the danger of confusion, which is further accentuated by very young and old specimens.
Consuming (unrecognized) poisonous mushrooms can only have an impact on your health days or weeks later. So it is not enough to try a piece of a specimen that cannot be identified with certainty and wait a while…
But if while gathering firewood you come across fresh porcini mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms, goat lips, etc. and can identify them perfectly, I’d probably go for it. Otherwise: leave it alone!
What do you think of these types of outdoor adventures? What practical experience have you gained, what mistakes have you made – and can you give others a tip? 🙏
Write to us via the comment function!
On Youtube. New episodes appear on Wednesdays on Fabio Schäfer’s channel and on Saturdays on Otto Karasch.
source: watson
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
