Wild Mushrooms
Warning: If you do not know how to positively identify a mushroom species, you should not eat any wild mushroom.

There are over 5,000 species of mushrooms in the United States and two thirds of them are found in the Great Lakes area. Mushrooms are decomposers which help nature to break down dead plants and animals. Without them, our forests would be filled with leaf litter and other kinds of organic debris.

Besides doing nature's dirty work, many kinds of mushrooms are delicious to eat. Even squirrels get in on the act by harvesting mushrooms and laying them out on the branches of trees to dry before storing them away for the winter. While many kinds of mushrooms are safe to eat, be sure that you are with someone who knows how to properly identify and cook mushrooms. About 12 species of mushrooms are known to be fatal and there is no cure for mushroom poisoning.

In the Upper Great Lakes area there are many species of mushrooms that are safe and edible for people. The best time of the year for hunting them is late spring through early fall. They are most often found in moist areas after a rain storm. The morels, shown in the upper left, are smooth and break apart easily, but are not crumbly. The chanterelles, shown in the bottom right, are highly prized among mycophiles (people who really like mushrooms).