{"id":9827,"date":"2021-11-01T21:54:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T21:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9827"},"modified":"2022-05-17T20:50:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T20:50:48","slug":"where-to-find-morel-mushrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/where-to-find-morel-mushrooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Where To Find Morel Mushrooms?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Morel season is every mushroom hunter\u2019s favorite time of year. If you\u2019re new to foraging wild mushrooms, perhaps you\u2019re hoping to find some of these spring beauties yourself. But where should you start looking for them? How do you identify them and tell them apart from inedible mushrooms that look similar? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll discuss everything you need to know about where to find morel mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is the Best Place to Find Morels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"where<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morels are one of the most popular types of mushrooms for foraging, but you have to know where to look for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are most likely to find morels growing in forest or wooded areas, especially near dead or dying trees. You may also find them growing near ferns and fiddleheads. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morels are most likely to grow<\/a> from loose, loamy soil. Any area with disturbed soil, lots of organic matter, plenty of shade, and abundant moisture will be a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might want to check south-facing slopes early on in the season, moving to north-facing slopes as the weather warms up. Morels do best when soil temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and air temperatures are between 50 and 60 degrees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morels often spring up near creeks or streams and in flood plains. Areas that have recently flooded are especially good spots to check because of the moisture and the potential that mushroom spores were carried to that spot by the floodwaters. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also want to check areas where there was a forest fire or a smaller burn area, especially a year or two after the event. The death and decay of burned trees along with moisture left over from attempts to put out the fire produce ideal conditions for morels to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, areas where trees have been felled or thinned in the previous year or two also make for prime morel conditions. Since these mushrooms thrive around dead and dying trees, these areas provide excellent breeding grounds for morels to grow and spread.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Find Morels Anywhere?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Judging by the above section, it may seem like morels grow in a lot of different places. That may be true, but it\u2019s also a little bit misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot find morels just anywhere; they only grow in certain conditions at certain times of the year. And they can be a little tricky to find. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find a patch of morels one year, you\u2019ll probably find them in the same place next year, but they don\u2019t necessarily spread as quickly or proficiently as other types of mushrooms. Just because conditions are good for morels to grow in a particular spot, that doesn\u2019t mean they will actually be growing there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, morels can be hard to find, and you have to know where to look for them. The best place to start is always where you have found them growing in past years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Elevation Do Morels Grow At?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Morels have been found growing at a variety of elevations, anywhere between 400 and 5,000 feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the best elevation range for morel proliferation seems to be 400-600 feet above sea level. The conditions are ideal for spawning and spreading in this \u201csweet spot\u201d<\/em> because the average amounts of rain provide adequate moisture, temperatures are mild without being extreme, and wind conditions are tolerable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Trees Do Morels Grow By?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As noted above, morels thrive near dead or dying trees. But what are some of their favorite trees for growing under?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morels seem to have a preference for certain deciduous hardwood trees, especially oak, elm, tulip poplar, cottonwood, maple, sycamore, and ash. Occasionally, they will also grow near evergreens, such as in conifer forests that have experienced recent forest fires.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morels don\u2019t grow from the trees themselves but from the ground surrounding the trees. As the trees and their roots decompose, they add nutrients to the soil that make it an ideal spot for morels to grow.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Best Time of Year to Find Morel Mushrooms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"what's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morels have a pretty short season no matter where they grow. While they may make a second appearance during the fall if conditions are ideal, the best time to find them growing widely is during the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first morels will likely make an appearance sometime between late March and early May depending on your specific region. It may take some practice to learn when they are most likely to appear in your area.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good rule of thumb is to begin hunting for morels when you notice dandelions beginning to flower, or when ferns begin making an appearance in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Identify Morels?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources<\/a>, there are several varieties of morel mushrooms, each with a slightly different color pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the color, morels are highly recognizable mushrooms. Some common identifiers include the narrow, wrinkled, pitted caps and hollow stems. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cap of the morel is typically attached to the stem rather than free-hanging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If in doubt about whether your mushroom is a morel or not, slice it open. True morels should have a free, hollow cavity from the tip of the cap to the base of the stem.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at some specific varieties of morel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n