Deadly morels

Authorities in America have warned people of the dangers of eating raw or under cooked morels after a "significant increase" in the number of poisioning cases.

Eating raw, under cooked & consuming alcohol with morels can cause excessive vomiting within minutes of consumption.


The mushrooms are thriving in the wake of last summer's devastating forest fires, with hundreds of mushroom-pickers camping in the national forests to harvest the mushrooms.

Marilyn Shaw mycologist for the RMPDC said "This is a significant increase over the usual number of reported poisonings due to morel consumption. We want to make sure that all mycophagists are aware of the dangers of eating raw or partially cooked morels, or consuming alcoholic beverages with either raw or cooked morels."

Giant morel found

American Charley Robinson has found a giant morel measuring 17 inches in girth and weighing 1.25 pounds, he said.

''I have been trying to find out what the records are for morels, but so far have struck out. I have found references to some around a pound, but none as large as mine, though I don't doubt that there are some.''

Mr Robinson 61 has been searching for morels for more than three decades near his home in Sanford and couldn't believe his eyes when they focused on the giant fungi near his cabin. Robinson let the mushroom grow for 10 days before picking it confident that know one else would find it.

''I have learned not to pick them until they feel a little dry,'' Robinson said. ''That is when they quit growing. It was still growing when I picked it. But I didn't want to risk someone else finding it.''


''It sure dwarfed the others that grew in the same area, even though they were all above average size,'' Robinson said.

Robinson said the exact location where he found the mushroom is ''classified.''

''I have hunted morels most of my life and have it down to a science,'' Robinson said. ''I have always found them in areas that had been burned over.

A Morel dilema?

A man out foraging in the good old US of A struck gold when he stumbled upon a giant Morel crop.

"I've been mushroom hunting since I was a kid," he said. "I've found some big mushrooms before, but nothing like this." said the gob-smacked yank.

The largest specimen measured more than 12 inches long with a three-inch diameter base. Morel mushrooms are a prized commodity, selling at his local farmer's markets for as much as $35 to $40 per pound.

But like any good mushroom hunter the bloke refused to cash in on his crop - and ate them instead!

Well what else could he do?