Foraging Policy

Last updated: 2026-05-30

MushroomGuide.ca is a cultivation-only site. We do not publish wild-mushroom identification or foraging guides. Several wild mushrooms in Canada — including Amanita phalloides (death cap), Galerina marginata, and Cortinarius species — can cause irreversible liver failure or death from a single misidentification. If you are interested in wild mushrooms, work with a local mycological society and a qualified mycologist in person.

Why we don't publish foraging content

Wild mushroom identification is the single highest-stakes topic in this field. In Canada, the most common deadly species include:

• Amanita phalloides (death cap) — established in BC and spreading; causes irreversible liver failure
• Galerina marginata (deadly galerina) — easily mistaken for psilocybin and edible species
• Cortinarius species — slow-onset kidney failure; symptoms can take days
• Amanita virosa (destroying angel) — present across Canada

A single misidentification can be fatal, and online photos are not reliable for identification. Even seasoned foragers make mistakes. We have decided that no level of disclaimer is sufficient for us to publish identification content.

If you want to learn foraging safely

Find a local mycological society and attend in-person walks with experienced members. Examples include the Vancouver Mycological Society, the Mycological Society of Toronto, the Cercle des Mycologues de Montréal, and the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society. Many provinces have similar groups.

Online identification — including from us, from apps, and from Reddit/Facebook groups — should never be your only source.

What we cover instead

Everything on MushroomGuide.ca is about cultivated mushrooms — oyster, lion's mane, shiitake, king oyster, chestnut, and other species grown from sterile, verified spawn. With cultivation, you know exactly what species you have because you inoculated it yourself.