Wild Mushroom Foraging Leads to 11 Hospitalizations in Montana

A gateway to Yellowstone National Park is once again making headlines — and not because it’s the hometown of that tourist sent airborne by a bison.

A group of 11 people fell ill on Monday and required hospitalization after eating mushrooms they’d collected in Park County, Mont., authorities said. Park County is just outside of Bozeman, a primary entrance to Yellowstone National Park and an increasingly popular location for mushroom foragers. The group that fell sick was apparently visiting “from outside the local area,” the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said.

Emergency responders arrived at a private residence to find the group (10 adults and one minor) sick from unintended mushroom poisoning. The shroom-sick group was taken to multiple Montana hospitals for medical care.

By Tuesday evening, all of them remained hospitalized, with seven in serious condition, three in fair condition, and one in good condition, according to a statement from department spokesperson Jon Ebelt.

“Based on preliminary information, authorities believe this is an isolated incident, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat or risk to the general public beyond those inherent in mushroom foraging,” Ebelt said in a statement shared with GearJunkie. “There is no indication that this incident is tied to any restaurants or grocery establishments.”

The Dangers of Mushroom Foraging

Over the last several years, social media has highlighted the joys and benefits of foraging, leading more people to venture outside in search of wild mushrooms. That’s especially true in Montana, which produces a wealth of edible mushroom species.

It’s not clear yet what mushrooms were eaten by the group in Montana this week. But many foragers are especially fond of morels, which are prized for their flavor and also lucrative for the right buyer. However, it’s often difficult for rookie foragers to know the difference between safe mushrooms and poisonous ones.

Moreover, some mushrooms (like morels) are only safe to eat when prepared and cooked correctly. In fact, the state’s health department website even has a page devoted to information about morel mushrooms.

Whether you’re learning how to forage for morels — or just figuring out how to prepare them for a meal — GearJunkie’s Hunt/Fish Editor Rachelle Schrute has you covered. Her handy guide to morel mushrooms will help you figure out how to begin your shroom journey without getting sick.