Bay Nature: BAY AREA MUSHROOMS AND FORAGING
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most fertile mushroom habitats in North America, with hundreds of species fruiting from the first fall rains through early spring. Bay Nature has been covering Bay Area mushrooms for 25 years; from morel season in Northern California to death caps appearing under local oaks every winter. Whether you are foraging, identifying, or just curious about what is growing in your garden, scroll down for answers.
your garden’s secret life
All That the Mulch Brings
Bay Area wood chip beds have been quietly accumulating immigrant mushroom species since 1989. Some are edible. Some are hallucinogenic. Most arrived without anyone noticing.
–California mushrooms–
FROM MORELS TO DEATH CAPS, FORAGING, IDENTIFICATION, AND MORE
Where Do Morel Mushrooms Grow in Northern California?
Morel mushrooms are among the most prized edibles in Northern California, fruiting in burn zones, urban wood chips, and mountain forests each spring. Bay Nature’s naturalist explains exactly where and when to find them in the Bay Area.
Meet the Latticed Stinkhorn, A Fragrant Fungus Beloved of Flies
It looks like a geometric red cage, smells like rotting meat, and appears in Bay Area gardens after the winter rains. Bay Nature explains how this bizarre California mushroom spreads its spores and why flies love it.
Why Do Mushrooms Come in So Many Shapes and colors?
Every mushroom shape serves a purpose, from gills to spines to pores, all designed to disperse spores as efficiently as possible. An SF State mycologist explains the biology behind California mushroom identification.
California’s New State Mushroom Is One Heck of a Fungus
The California golden chanterelle is the largest chanterelle in the world and is now the state’s official mushroom. Bay Nature explains what makes this Bay Area edible mushroom so prized, and how to tell it from its look-alikes.
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Why Do Mushrooms Return to the Same Place?
If mushrooms keep appearing in the same spot in your garden year after year, there is a reason; the organism lives underground and fruits from the same mycelium every season. Bay Nature’s naturalist explains how Bay Area mushrooms grow and reproduce.
Sex and Poison May Explain California Death Cap Invasion
The death cap mushroom is the most deadly fungus in California, and it is spreading. Bay Nature investigates how the death cap’s unusual reproductive biology may be driving its invasion of Bay Area oak woodlands.
The Most Eye-Catching Mushrooms to See in Winter
Bay Area mushroom season peaks in winter, and these are the five species most worth seeking out. Bay Nature’s guide to California winter fungi covers where to look and what you will find after the first rains.
Where to Find Fungi, Once the Rains Begin
The first fall rains trigger Bay Area mushroom season, and the East Bay Regional Parks are among the best places to look. Bay Nature’s field guide covers the best spots and species to find when California mushroom foraging begins.
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Bay Nature Talks and Hikes
from the page to the trail
Bay Nature’s guided hikes and talks put you in the field alongside the mycologists, naturalists, and scientists behind our stories. Whether you’re learning to identify Bay Area mushrooms on a foraging walk, exploring the East Bay parks after the first fall rains, or attending an expert-led talk on California fungi, every event is a chance to see the Bay Area through expert eyes.
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Upcoming Bay Nature Events and Talks
Alhambra Hills Open Space Hike with Jamie Fox
This 297-acre preserve including land once owned by John Muir was once slated for development. After 12 years of grassroots organizing led by Jamie Fox it was saved, and it opened to the public in February 2025.
Bay Nature Talk: Mothing with Allen Fish and Cat Chang
Join Bay Nature and expert naturalists Cat Chang and Allen Fish for a virtual talk about moths and those who watch them. We’re surrounded by a world of insects that we barely notice. Tune in to learn more about moth appreciation and how you can dive into the lives of moths on your own. Live Q&A to follow.
Bay Nature Event: The Marine Mammal Center
Join Bay Nature for a private tour of the Marine Mammal Center before it opens to the public. During this 60-minute walking tour led by an expert docent, you’ll hear stories of marine mammal survival and learn how you can make a difference for these vulnerable patients.
Bay Nature Talk: Leucistic Birds with Eric Schroeder
Join Bay Nature and birder Eric Schroeder for a virtual talk about leucism in birds. Leucism is a rare condition in which a bird’s plumage has white feathers that aren’t normally white. Cornell Lab estimates one in 30,000 birds has leucistic or albinistic plumage. Live Q&A to follow.
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About BAY NATURE
Bay Nature is an independent nonprofit publication based in Berkeley, California.
Bay Nature is an independent nonprofit publication based in Berkeley, California. For 25 years we have covered the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area, from the mushrooms fruiting in your garden to the wildlife on your doorstep.
We publish a quarterly print magazine, report new stories every week, and run one of the Bay Area’s largest nature events programs, from mycologist-guided foraging walks to expert-led talks. As an independent nonprofit, we rely on the support of readers, members, and donors who believe the Bay Area’s natural world is worth covering.
25+
Years covering Bay Area nature, science, and conservation
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Annual visitors reading Bay Nature’s award-winning stories online.
75+
Events per year including hikes, expert talks and special events.
