Searching for morel mushrooms in Michigan? DNR can help
Marnie MuñozIt's morel foraging season in Michigan.
The honeycomb-like wild mushrooms grow best in warm, wet conditions in forested areas with large burn sites, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The department has an online map to help those interested in finding the best spots during May, which is considered morel month in Michigan.
Burned areas where jack, white, or red pine trees once grew tend to be more hospitable to morels than non-forest or grassy areas, according to DNR morel mushroom hunting guidelines listed online.
It's been a tough season to find black morels in Michigan so far, said Antoine Delaforterie of Troy.
Delaforterie, 63, said he does reconnaissance for morels in early April each year as a group leader in the Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club. On these preliminary "hunts," Delaforterie looks for indicators of a bountiful foraging season, including ground temperature and moisture levels, he said.
Club members usually gather in groups of 12-18 people to go on organized foraging expeditions later in the season with reconnaissance searchers leading the way, he said. The trips can be leisurely, despite all the effort that goes into making sure club members are informed and sticking to the group's path, he said.
Delaforterie's early searches this year seemed promising, but the mushroom forager with nearly 50 years of experience has yet to encounter good stock of black morels as May begins, he said.
"It's not always what you want," Delaforterie said. "It's always what you get. If you wish for it, you don't get it."
The black morel's absence in hunts so far this year is puzzling to Delaforterie after harvesting many in the 2023 season, he said. Delaforterie has practically given up on the search for black morels, resorting instead to look for white morels with his group in other parks, he said.
False morels, or lookalike species, are poisonous and should not be eaten, according to DNR. True morel species have pitted caps with little hollows, while false morels often have wrinkled, ridged or smooth surfaces without holes.
Of local true morel species, including white morels, black morels, half-free morels and burn-site morels, all authentic mushrooms must be washed before consumption, according to DNR.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in March linking morel consumption with a Montana outbreak in which 51 people reported gastrointestinal illnesses; two people died. A CDC investigation indicated the mushrooms were uncooked or undercooked, likely causing the outbreak.
Foraging enthusiasts should always refrigerate morels below 40 degrees in breathable packaging and cook the mushrooms thoroughly before consumption to reduce toxin levels, according to the CDC.
Some inexperienced foragers can be overeager and claim morels without close inspection, Delaforterie said. Such foragers may mistake false morels for authentic, edible species of the mushroom. Other people may overlook signs of rot, which is dangerous to consume, he said.
Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club members strive to educate each other about safe foraging practices, but not all foragers are looking to eat their findings, Delaforterie said. Some enthusiasts make paper out of select mushroom species, while others gather mushrooms for scientific study, he said.
Many mushroom foragers also come out to forage for the scenery, he said.
"Michigan is a beautiful state," he said.
amunoz@detroitnews.com