Foraging Wisdom: An Interview with a Mushroom Expert

How did you get started with mushroom foraging and identification?

Growing up in Mount Shasta, I became interested in the natural world and the mystery of it all. I think that mushrooms really highlighted that mystery, and that appealed to me greatly. My parents gave me the impression that all mushrooms were poisonous – referring to all of them as “Toadstools” and I was told to wash my hands if I ever touched them. One Spring day in my parent’s backyard I noticed a huge patch of these bizarre-looking mushrooms with pitted caps. I had never seen anything like them and automatically assumed they were poisonous. a friend identified them as Morels, which are prized edibles, and I was inspired to know more. I got my first mushroom book at 16 years old, “National Audubon Society Field Guide to north American Mushrooms.”

What permits are required for mushroom foraging in the public lands in Siskiyou?

You want to check the USFS or whatever agency oversees the lands you plan to harvest from for permits. These can vary from forest to forest. Last year at Shasta-Trinity you could gather up to 1 gallon per day up to 20 days without needing to purchase a permit. Commercial permits are different than recreational so research this before you go out, because regulations change, and fines can be hefty.

What are the best times of year for mushroom foraging in Siskiyou County?

Spring season (April – July) is by far most popular. People are focused on Morel and Bolete mushrooms and that is when McCloud hosts their annual Mushroom Festival. Fall (September – December) is also a great time but can be cut short by the oncoming winter freeze. The most diverse mushroom season I have ever seen here was the fall of 2023.

Which mushrooms are most commonly found during the spring and fall seasons here?

Siskiyou is diverse and there are lots of varieties to be found. Probably some of the most common are various types of Russula species – some of which are good edibles, but most are ignored and passed up for Morels and Boletes, which are the most sought after for their culinary purposes and the thrill of finding large patches. In the Fall, common species are Tricholoma and Russula. The short-stemmed Russula,  Russula brevipes, is very common, but most culinary and commercial folks would be looking for the famous White Matsutake, and white Chanterelles.

What resources or tools do you use for mushroom identification?

My most used field guide is Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora. This is the bible of mushroom ID. My latest field guide is Mushrooms of Cascadia by Noah Siegel and Christian Schwarz – it is very user friendly and has awesome pictures. iNaturalist, is an online crowdsourced species identification and recording tool. There are many experienced naturalists who upload and vote on species ID, creating research grade observations. Facebook has some great mushroom ID groups like the Pacific Northwest Mushroom Identification Forum where many experienced mycologists hang out.

How do you differentiate between edible and poisonous mushrooms?

There are no shortcuts to determine whether they are edible or poisonous. Experience and critical examination are key. I suggest to learn the deadly species first if you plan on eating wild mushrooms and take a top-to-bottom approach when examining. Examine the cap, shape, veil tissues, gills, spore color, stem, base, growth habit and ecology. Note any color changes, smells, the types of trees that they grow next to. All of this evidence you apply to your field guide to hopefully arrive to a genus and / or species name.

Can you describe your process for documenting and cataloging your finds?

I like to take photographs of the mushrooms, in their natural environment. I like to show multiple individuals of the same species in different stages of growth, from  button stage to fully open, mature specimens; cap, gills, the entire stem and the base. I make sure to display the substrate – needles, pinecones, leaves, etc, of the plants growing near, noting natural and chemical color changes, and sometimes ultraviolet light reactions. I then upload the pics to iNaturalist, where others can vote on the ID until it is considered research grade material.

How do you ensure sustainable foraging practices?

Picking the mushroom is like picking an apple from a tree, you aren’t damaging the tree by taking one. I think that it is always good practice to leave some for others and to not go around raking up the ground. The mushroom you see above the ground is the reproductive part of the fungus. The majority of the organism is within the substrate. Mushrooms reproduce by spores, typically carried off by air currents and animals. So, by the time you find one it has likely released thousands of spores, and by picking it, you are actually helping spread spores. The biggest threat to mushrooms is loss of habitat.

Have you ever encountered any dangerous situations while foraging?

Getting lost. Being hyper focused on the ground, searching for mushrooms, you can get turned around. Make sure to bring a compass, and I use two tools for GPS. A phone, and a Garmin locating device. I have downloaded mapping apps on my phone, always let someone know where you are going. As a fellow mushroom hunter once said, “A successful mushroom hunt is making it back home.” I’ve also had many bear encounters, some involving cubs, so now I often carry bear spray. If you have a dog, they can be a joy and sense of comfort out there on the hunt.

What is your favorite mushroom? 

To me, they are all magical. Love the diversity of mushrooms but my favorite species right now would probably be the Matsutake, a fall species. It associates with a certain plant, the Candy stick, if you hunt for that plant then you know where the mycelium is. They are delicious and have an interesting odor, described by Arora as “red hots and dirty socks.”

To book a guided foraging walk with a local experienced mushroom guide email Jayme at eyeofthefungi85@gmail.com

More on mushrooms in Siskiyou:

Mushroom Hunting in Siskiyou County

21st Annual McCloud Mushroom Festival

(all images kindly provided by Jayme Castro)