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Poisonous Mushrooms

Poisonous Mushrooms

What do you do if you suspect that you, someone else, or a pet has eaten a poisonous mushroom? Time is critical. Quickly do the following 1) Gather information for accurate identification. Collect one or more complete mushrooms including the base of the mushroom that...

Common Misconceptions About Morels

Morels are one of the most commonly foraged mushrooms in the United States, and likely one of the most popular around the world. They are broadly distributed globally, are very recognizable, and are relatively safe for a beginner to identify. The popularity of morels...

2024 Overview of Washington Burn Morel Spots

2024 Overview of Washington Burn Morel Spots

The best place to find burn morels are forests that burned in 2023. I have made a few tools and reference pages for those interested in finding burn morels in 2024. Western Washington Burn Summaries 2024 Supporting members and those enrolled in the Spring Intro Series...

Identifying Cottonwood Trees

Identifying Cottonwood Trees

One of the key habitats for early-season mushroom finding in the Pacific Northwest is with cottonwood trees. Western Washinton has fewer deciduous trees than the east coast, so identification is easier. Our cottonwood species is Populus trichocarpa. To find black...

Identifying Cottonwood Trees

Snohomish County Mushroom Foray

We're inching into spring mushroom season with low-elevation areas showing the most progress. This Saturday we will scout river bottom areas around Snohomish County in search of verpa and oysters near cottonwoods. I'm sure we will find plenty of other common spring...

Morels are edible and poisonous

It comes as a surprise to many when I say that the edibility of mushrooms is on a spectrum. Poisonous mushrooms can often be eaten when prepared in sometimes quite elaborate ways. For instance, there is a method for preparing the classic Amanita muscaria in a way that...

Spring Foraging – Stinging Nettles

Spring Foraging – Stinging Nettles

Before most edible spring mushrooms start flushing here in the Pacific Northwest we start to see stinging nettles. In fact, one of my most anticipated signs of spring are the nettles popping up in the green spaces around our home in NW Seattle.  The deep emerald color...

Fire Retardant and Burn Morels

Fire Retardant and Burn Morels

Trent recently posted about the safety of eating morels that are foraged in burn zones due to the use of fire retardants in the area. You can find the original post here. Here my key takeaways from the article. There is very limited research on morels and fire...

Toxicity of Morels and False Morels in the Pacific Northwest

Toxicity of Morels and False Morels in the Pacific Northwest

Introduction Navigating the spectrum of mushroom edibility and toxicity presents a complex challenge. Even widely accepted edible mushrooms can cause adverse effects in some individuals, while certain mushrooms known for their toxicity, such as Gyromitra esculenta,...