Russians should avoid going into the forest to pick mushrooms during rainy weather because harvested fungi spoil much faster, Russian biologist Dmitry Safonov has warned.
In remarks reported by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Safonov explained that wild mushrooms absorb large quantities of water during rainfall. This excess moisture causes collected mushrooms to deteriorate rapidly before they can be prepared or stored.
Beside accelerating food spoilage, wet weather creates physical dangers for people walking through woodland terrain. Safonov pointed out that rain turns forest paths slippery, making trips and falls much more likely for foragers.
Severe weather brings even greater hazards, according to the biologist. Standing beneath trees during a thunderstorm is unsafe because strong wind gusts can detach dry branches and cause severe injuries to anyone sheltering underneath.
Safonov also cautioned foragers against venturing outdoors in heavy fog. Low visibility in dense woods significantly increases the chance of mushroom pickers losing their bearings and getting lost.
Ideal weather and toxic lookalikes
Foragers should also refrain from gathering mushrooms after temperature drops bring frost to the area, Safonov advised. Frost causes mushrooms to freeze slightly, which ruins their flavor and renders them dangerous to human health.
Instead, Safonov defined the ideal weather for mushroom picking as moderate warmth combined with moderate humidity, with air temperatures ranging between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. The best time to head into the forest is one or two days after rain has fallen, he noted.
Wild mushroom foraging is a widespread seasonal tradition across Russia. Every year during late summer and autumn, millions of residents visit rural forests to collect wild fungi for culinary use and home preservation. However, unpredictable autumn weather and unfamiliar terrain routinely lead to safety warnings from health and forestry experts.
Safonov's advice comes shortly after public warnings were issued to Russian mushroom pickers regarding poisonous fungi. Authorities previously alerted foragers to the risk of encountering toxic mushrooms in the wild that bear a striking resemblance to edible species.
