Though dreary skies can sometimes put a damper on human spirits, constant moisture creates a paradise for mushrooms and other fungi. If you are a fungus fan, the rainy season is the best time to go on an ecologically sensitive mushroom hunt.
Here are some tips to help you find some cool new mushrooms while out on the trail. Keep in mind that collecting mushrooms in Midpen preserves is illegal! Mushrooms are important members of forest floor ecosystems. As decomposers, they are necessary for recycling nutrients in the ecosystem, and removing them can alter that process. Additionally, the multitude of fungi are amazing, but some are deadly poisonous. Picking and eating wild mushrooms can kill you! Please take only pictures and leave only footprints:
- Learn about trees! Spending time looking up into trees when you're looking for mushrooms that grow on the ground may seem counterintuitive, but certain mushroom species will only grow in relationship with certain species of trees. If you learn to identify these trees, then finding new varieties of mushrooms becomes much easier. Some important mushroom host tree species to know are Western hemlocks (Tsuga heterophylla), coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and pine tree species (Pinus spp.).
- Take a close look at rotten logs! Look at the log from every angle. Sometimes you have to get really close to see the tiny fungi that live in the cracks of decomposing wood.
- Take it slow! Many miniscule and inconspicuous fungi will be missed by a hurried searcher. You often make the coolest observations when you take the time to really look.
- Persistence! Often the most frustrating thing about fungi is that they are unpredictable. You may venture out on a misty morning, expecting to see some cool exotic coral fungus, or a bright orange jelly ear and spot none. However, as you continue to spend time enjoying the brilliant company of fungi, you will soon intuitively learn much about how they exist – their patterns and habits.
- Join a Midpen docent-naturalist-led activity! Midpen's trained docent-naturalists occasionally lead fungus-focused hikes, especially in the winter. Join one of these experts to learn how to spot the amazing variety of mushrooms that can be found in Midpen preserves.
