Wet weather sprouts potentially harmful fungi
Wet and warm weather in southern Colorado is perfect fuel for wild mushrooms to grow. People may spot them in their yards, particularly around wooded areas.
“Mushrooms feed on decaying matter, so they’re associated with places where there’s a lot of decaying wood,” said Julie McIntyre, owner of Summerland Gardens in Colorado Springs. “We have seen a lot more mushrooms growing in places where we’ve never seen them growing before.”
Mycologists say identifying mushrooms can be tricky, even for the experts. Picking a wrong one can have deadly consequences.
“The mushrooms you see around here are not dangerous to the touch. They’re dangerous if you eat them, and they can cause a lot of health problems even if they don’t kill you,” said Dr. John Torres, KRDO’s medical expert. “It can cause liver issues, it can cause stomach issues, and if it’s causing liver issues, and it starts to get into the system more, it can cause death.”
Doctors and mycologists recommend keeping pets away from wild mushrooms and warning children to avoid them when playing outside. If someone suspects a loved one or pet ingested a toxic mushroom, see a doctor right away.
