Morel potential looking up

Many people in Washington County have been waiting anxiously for the lilacs to bloom, the oak leaves to get the size of a squirrel?s ear, or any of a myriad of methods for knowing that the soil temperature is has reached the point that morel mushrooms will be fruiting. At least right now, the odds are looking to be excellent that the soil moisture levels are right, and 2011 is going to be a banner morel mushroom season here in Washington County once it warms back up.

All of the timbered areas that the Washington County Conservation Board manages are popular for hunting morel mushrooms, especially Brinton Timber, Sockum Ridge, Fern Cliff, and the Kewash Nature trail. Unfortunately, patrons have been very slow in delivering 10 percent of the bounty, so I am not going to tell you my specific favorite prime locations. Instead, I am just going to give you some hints:

1. Look for freshly dead and dying, trees. The ?perfect? tree has tons of shallow roots, its bark is still on, and nobody else has noticed it. The next best choice is virtually any tree with one or more morel mushrooms by it.

2. In the early season, look for little gray mushrooms to appear first in the warmer soils, like the south facing slopes with full sun exposure. As the season progresses, they are more apt to be yellow and deeper in the woods, with those in the shade and on northern slopes coming last (often so late that other foliage can make them hard to spot).

3. Once the first mushroom is found, take a hard look at its location. Very often that same pattern (such as half way up the hill on a north facing slope and around a freshly dying elm tree) will prove to be the key to success for the entire day. Also, return to that area each morning for the next several days- thus getting their first and keeping your ?honey hole? a secret from other mushroom hunters.

Mushroom hunting is an extremely safe and fun family activity. All that you really need to do is to be able to identify this distinct little jewel and protect yourself from ticks, mosquitoes, and poison ivy. I also remind you that it is turkey hunting season and I thus suggest not wearing the colors of the American flag (red, white and blue) as well as black since they are the colors of turkeys. Oh yeah, and gobble all the mushrooms you can but don?t imitate a turkey gobble.

While you are out attempting to collect lunch, make certain that you also remain a respectful steward of the land by not littering, trespassing, or causing excessive damage to native flora (don?t stomp down every plant in an effort to find one more mushroom).

Inevitably, mushroom hunters stumble upon nests, fawns, and other young wildlife. In each case, the very best thing you can do is LEAVE THEM ALONE! That fawn is not an orphan and the hen turkey is far more apt to return to the nest and hatch her eggs if you minimize your disturbance. Baby bunnies have a poor chance of surviving if you bring them home, and baby raccoons get mean when they grow up! Wildlife, by its very definition, is far better off to die wild than anything that happens once tamed, no matter how sincere the intention may be.

Grab your kids and your camera and get out and enjoy a romp in the woods over the next three weeks, and you will stand an excellent chance to find some bonus morel mushrooms. If your ventures bring you in proximity to Marr Park, I remind you that we have now changed to our summer hours of operation of the Conservation Education Center here at Marr Park. It is always our goal to staff this facility such that it is open for as many of the hours when the public is in the park as we practically can. Therefore, starting on April 1st, Center Coordinator Kathy Dolan is here on Monday and Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM, on Friday and Saturday from 12:30 to 8:30 PM, and on Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Our telephone number is (319) 657-2400.