{"id":12348,"date":"2022-11-23T05:04:41","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T10:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=12348"},"modified":"2022-11-26T08:24:53","modified_gmt":"2022-11-26T13:24:53","slug":"what-animals-eat-bolete-mushrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/what-animals-eat-bolete-mushrooms\/","title":{"rendered":"What Animals Eat Bolete Mushrooms?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You were out foraging for wild mushrooms when you came across a patch of half-eaten boletes. The caps were riddled with bug holes or partially missing, or perhaps you could see the evidence where mushrooms had been bitten off at the base of the stem. So now you\u2019re curious: what animals eat the bolete mushroom? Keep reading as we explore the answer to this question and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Animals Eat Bolete Mushrooms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are many types of animals that eat a wide variety of mushrooms. These animals may or may not consume boletes depending on whether or not they are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following animals on this list are particularly known for eating bolete mushrooms<\/a> if given the opportunity. This is an incomplete list, of course, but these animals have shown a documented love for boletes among the many other foods that make up their diet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bears<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Different types of bears enjoy eating boletes. They will eat a variety of different bolete types, but they seem to prefer those known as slippery jacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black, brown, and grizzly bears all eat bolete mushrooms, along with several other mushroom varieties. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, bears eat many other foods as well. They are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat just about anything as long as it is readily available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all bears actively forage for mushrooms, though most bears will eat them if they happen to come across them. The exception would be bear populations in Eurasia, the Pacific northwest, and around Yellowstone, who have displayed a greater tendency to hunt and eat mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like bears, deer eat many different kinds of mushrooms. This is especially true during the winter, when grass and other food sources are more scarce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, they will sometimes eat mushrooms at other times of the year to supplement their diet and get extra nutrition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bolete mushrooms typically grow in the summer and fall months. Young deer who have been injured or are sick or malnourished may eat boletes for their nutritional properties and to help them recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Squirrels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Squirrels throughout the world will eat many different kinds of mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to boletes, the red squirrel has shown a particular affinity for bolete mushrooms, especially the king boletes (known as penny buns in the U.K.). <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

King boletes are large mushrooms with a delicious nutty, earthy flavor. A single mushroom could provide multiple meals for a squirrel, so finding one in the wild is a desirable treat for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out this video of a squirrel eating a mushroom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HWPdE3XH4Kc<\/a>