With temperatures warmer and spring weather here, morel mushroom hunting season is upon us. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, morel mushrooms begin to appear when temperatures reach the 60s during the day and 50s overnight. Washington County Conservation Director Zach Rozmus says his week began by fielding calls from residents asking for mushroom hunting advice.

Rozmus adds that he welcomes mushroom hunters to Washington County parks, “Technically, you’re not supposed to remove anything from a county or state park, that’s just how the state law reads. We’ve never really made a stance on it. … It’s just one of those deals that we understand too, that having a relationship with the community, we have access to this beautiful ground, we want people to come out and enjoy it. And I think that growing up in rural Iowa, I understand that the morel mushroom aspect of it is a big part of the culture, where a lot of people outside of the area have never had a morel mushroom before. It’s something that’s quite tasty and also fun to find.”

To maximize finds and safety, the DNR recommends to store mushrooms in mesh bags or baskets to prevent spoiling, only collect mushrooms that are away from pesticides or heavy metal sources, and always cook them before eating to avoid consuming harmful bacteria.