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Autumn is the peak season when it comes to looking and foraging for mushrooms in BC, and the hobby is as popular as ever.
That’s why Elements Adventure Company in Vernon has been offering guided mushroom tours to learn the basics when it comes to identifying mushrooms.
Although the tours have concluded for the season, owner of Elements Adventure Company, Charles Ruechel, offered up some tips and tricks when getting into the world of fungi.
“There are old mushroom hunters and there are bold mushroom hunters. But there are no old, bold mushroom hunters. That’s because there are some species that can kill you, so you definitely need to be careful and conservative with them,” said Charles Ruechel.
Foragers should be cautious when going out and collecting mushrooms because there is always the possibility of them being poisonous or causing a bit of an upset stomach.
“The only way to tell if a mushroom is edible or not is to identify it 100%. If you have any doubt on what it is then throw it out, don't eat it,” explained Ruechel.
He pointed out that mushrooms may seem poisonous because of colour or size, but a quick eye test should not be the final verdict on whether that makes it edible or not. As there are many resources out there to help you identify what you may encounter in the wilderness.
“There are some more amateur friendly guide books out there that help people identify mushrooms that aren't quite scientific. One just came out from part of the Royal BC Museum, Andy MacKinnon is the author of ‘Mushrooms of British Columbia' and it is a wonderful guide,” said Ruechel.
Finding a mushroom mentor, someone who is knowledgeable in the field, is also a good resource. People can find individuals on Facebook groups, mushroom tours, mycological society’s and, in some regions, mushroom festivals.
“There are some really great mushroom ID Facebook groups. You have to know where to take photos of the mushroom and what information is important, like where it's growing (and) what kind of tree it’s growing on or near,” said Ruechel. “Then, if you upload that to a Facebook page, there's usually some geek somewhere in the world that will tell you within minutes what mushroom you've got.”
Sustainability and respecting the environment is also a major part of the hobby. When it comes to picking, you should only take in small quantities from Crown land.
Picking in provincial parks is illegal, but the government does provide an online mapping tool for those looking to hunt in popular areas.
“If you’re harvesting mushrooms for food it's a good idea to cut them off just above the soil surface so as much of the mycelium can stay intact," Ruechel added. "Mycelium is the root of the mushrooms, so definitely leaving a lot there is a great idea, and just for other people who come by and want to experience the same joy you had in finding these things.
He noted that you should be mindful when taking your findings home and to avoid putting them in plastic bags, as they can decay faster. A container or plastic bin would be more suitable transportation.
When eating a mushroom that is confirmed to be 100% edible, it’s important to only eat a small piece and save the rest in your fridge for about five days to see how your body might react.
“If you do get sick, you can take that mushroom with you to the hospital and tell them this is what I ate, that way they can help identify it and know what to do to help you," explained Ruechel. "Everyone can have their own idiosyncratic reaction to eating a mushroom.”
With the mushroom season running from mid August until November, there’s only a few weeks left to get out and explore. Whether that exploration involves observing and identifying or collecting and eating, there are over 8,000 types of mushroom species to be found in North America.
“I think that’s also the allure, that there is this secret world that’s happening right under our feet,” Ruechel said.
“The mystery of them, they just do their own thing in the private, dark corners of the forest. They’re not like flowers that want to be like ‘Hey here I am come touch me so I can pollinate’, the mushrooms they just don’t care at all. There just in these dark places doing their own thing, so I think that adds to the mystery of it."
More information on mushroom picking can be found on the Government of BC website.
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