Hunting for Morel mushrooms in the National Park

By Jane Greiner
Sun contributor
Locals and visitors alike are discovering that ranger-led walks are a great way to enjoy the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (the local branch of the National Park Service). As part of the program, “Saturdays at the Lakeshore,” a ranger meets with the public at the Philip Hart Visitors Center in Empire to give a brief introduction before leading the day’s hike. This spring the National Lakeshore has held walks to a maple sugar house, newly discovered log cabins in the Park, waterfowl observation and a mushroom hunt for beginners.

The two-hour programs are geared to the general public, and as such the rangers often provide free handouts or loaner materials and equipment such as bird books, binoculars and a spotting scope.
I recently joined about 40 adults and 10 children for the beginner’s mushroom hunt. Ranger Marie Scott began by explaining the mission, which is to “preserve and protect” the Park. The general rule is that nothing can be removed from or collected within its territory. No one should pick wildflowers, collect Petoskey stones, dig for artifacts, cut down trees or take home souvenirs of any kind. However, the public can gather fruit and berries and edible mushrooms for their own personal use. The official list of allowable fruits and berries is called the Superintendent’s Compendium.
Using slides and a few fresh mushrooms, Ranger Marie taught us how to identify the edible Morel mushroom by three characteristics: it must have a pitted, hollow cap; it must have a hollow stem; and the cap must be attached to the stem along the bottom of the cap.
Though the Morel is by far the most popular mushroom, there are other edible mushrooms in our midst. We learned that Shaggy Manes are easy to spot and edible, though never to be mixed with alcohol. Puffballs are also edible, but should always be sliced open first to determine that no gills are visible. Gills would indicate that they are not really puffballs and might be Death Angels. But our primary goal for the day would be Morel mushrooms.
Ranger Marie also had three cardinal rules for mushroom hunters, which she had printed out on large flash cards. The first read: “There is no cure for mushroom poisoning.” This is a strong reminder that we must be absolutely certain when identifying mushrooms to eat.
The second rule she had us repeat aloud, “If it isn’t hollow, do not swallow.” All Morels are hollow, including the stem. If a mushroom you have found looks like a Morel but has a soft or cottony inside stem when you slice it open, it isn’t a Morel. Don’t eat it!
The third: “When in doubt, throw it out,” is a common-sense rule of thumb that could save your life.
Ranger Marie said that old orchards and old sawmill locations are good places to look. “Morels like disturbances,” she said. Not recent ones, but places where there had been changes in the past.
She advised us against hunting for mushrooms under pine trees. Morels certainly grow there, she said, but so do some poisonous mushrooms. And if a Morel grows up through the tiny root-like tendrils of a poisonous mushroom, or has poisonous spores nearby, it could easily be contaminated. Her mother taught her never to eat mushrooms found under pine trees, and to be safe, she taught the same thing to her kids.
After the briefing we went mushroom hunting with Ranger Marie at the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Our hunt started at the parking area near the entrance, where Ranger Marie showed us a mushroom growing there and mentioned that this area used to be a great mushroom spot before the parking lot was built.
She also listed the equipment she recommends for a mushroom hunt. A mesh bag (like an onion bag) is best for collecting. This helps spread the spores, and keeps the collected mushroom fresh. A plastic bag starts the decomposing process almost immediately. She also recommended water and a snack, a compass, because it is so easy to get disoriented in the woods, and a watch, because you can lose all sense of time in the excitement of a successful hunt. To find your way out of the woods by dark, you need to set a reasonable time for starting back.
We took the walking trail from the parking lot and someone spotted a couple of mushrooms almost immediately. Luckily, the Ranger had prepped us to call out when we found a mushroom and refrain from picking it until all of us could see the mushroom and begin developing our “mushroom eyes.” With so many people it took a few minutes, but we all got to see where the mushroom grew.
We crossed the drive and walked up about a quarter mile and then onto a gentle wooded slope to the left where Ranger Marie hoped we could find more mushrooms. As we walked through the woods she pointed out many indicators for mushrooms such as black cherry (potato chip bark) trees and Jack in the Pulpit wildflowers.
Though it had been a dry week, a few people in the group did find a couple of mushrooms. We also saw some red scarlet cups, which are distinctive mushrooms and often grow in the vicinity of Morels, and a beefsteak mushroom, which, though edible for many people, can, on occasion, be deadly.
Though only a few mushrooms were found on this dry afternoon, the ranger-led mushroom walk was a great success. All of us were able to see mushrooms in the woods. We all learned some useful tips on where and when to look for them. And we all could chant in unison, “If it isn’t hollow, Do Not Swallow!”