Pixabay

By Spencer Kent | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It’s been hot, humid and rainy this summer, conditions that have caused a bumper crop of mushrooms to invade New Jersey.

Throughout the summer, there's been an unusually high number of people poisoned by wild mushrooms than in years past. More than a dozen people were hospitalized within the past month-and-a-half alone from eating poisonous mushrooms.

Don't Edit

The New Jersey Poison Control Center received 38 reports of mushroom poisonings in 15 counties between July 1 and Aug. 13 with ages ranging from 9 months old to 70 years old.

This is a stark rise since the roughly 15 cases last summer. There were 16 poisonings in 2014, four in 2013 and 10 in 2012, according to a previous report.

“We’ve been up the last two years,” said Bruce Ruck, managing director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center. “We’ve seen a lot of people grabbing stuff and wanting to cook it, don’t ask me why.”

Don't Edit

What's causing so many mushrooms to grow?

Ruck said much of the problem is due to the heat, humidity and heavy rain this summer.

“It looks like the weather has been perfect for growing,” he said.

While he said he doesn’t know if the weather has been better for mushroom growth this year from the weather than previous years, he said, “it’s possible.”

He added, “I know my lawn, I’ve never seen growing this much.”

Don't Edit

What are some of the dangerous mushrooms in New Jersey?

There are a bunch of poisonous mushrooms in New Jersey, some of which can be potentially fatal. Here are some to be fearful of:

Don't Edit

Paul A. Hill | Flickr

'Death cap' (Amanita phalloides)

Its cap can be whitish, yellowish, brownish or even greenish. And while this might just look like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill mushroom to you, but it's appropriately known as the "death cap" mushroom, according to MushroomExpert.com. Of the genus Amanita, this sucker can pack a powerful punch and is among those most responsible for mushroom poisoning deaths.

Eating one could cause diarrhea, vomiting and cramping to liver failure.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Paul A. Hill | Flickr

'Destroying angel' (Amanita bisporigera)

Also of the genus Amanita, this is another highly poisonous beast in the wild. With its striking white colors and bald cap, this mushroom can also kill, potentially causing liver and kidney failure and even hepatic coma, according to MushroomExpert.com.

Don't Edit

Flickr

The 'fearless four'

There are wild mushrooms in New Jersey that you can eat, and are usually pretty easy to spot. Jim White, a professor of plant pathology at Rutgers University, told outlined these edible mushrooms — sometimes called "the fearless four" — in a report by NJ Advance Media last year.

These edible mushrooms include morels (Morchella), shaggy mane or inky caps (Coprinus comatus), a particular species of the chicken mushroom or sulphur shelf (Laetiporus sulphureus) and puffballs (Calvatia, Lycoperdon).

However, in a follow-up email, Ruck warned that "Many mushrooms may look like the edible ones ... but they really may not be the same."

"Only those trained in mushroom identification should attempt to identify a mushroom and eat it," he said. "We believe miss-identification is a major reason why people get harmed by eating wild mushrooms."

Don't Edit

Jim Commentucci | Syracuse.com

Morels

First of the “fearless four” are morels. Morels, which grow in soil around trees in the spring, are typically tan or brownish with a pitted hollow cap and stalk.

Don't Edit

Flickr

False morels

But, look out. It’s not always easy to distinguish these edible group from potentially lethal doppelgängers. There are what’s called “false morels,” which look similar but are potentiality deadly. The difference between the two is that the caps of false morels have a wrinkled, brain-like structure, instead of the honeycomb appearance that the harmless morel has.

The false morels also have cotton-like fibers inside their stems.

Don't Edit

Flickr

'Shaggy mane' or 'inky cap mushroom'

Sporting a whitish, tannish elongated cap covered in scales, the “shaggy mane” mushroom, also known as the “inky cap” mushroom is another on the list of mushrooms that are edible.

These usually grow on soil or wood chips in the summer and fall. This mushroom also has white gills that blacken as spores mature. This is what gives it the “inky cap” nickname. The gills and entire cap eventually dissolve to form a black liquid that resembles ink.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Flickr

'Chicken mushroom' or 'sulphur shelf'

Then there's the chicken mushrooms, which are quite large, sporting vibrant yellowish-orange colors with whitish-yellow pores on the bottom.

According to White in the report, one particular species of chicken mushroom are edible and typically grow on trees or at the base of dead or dying trees.

However, there are at least seven other chicken mushroom or sulphur shelf species that look similar but can be toxic. These, experts say, often can be found on downed logs and dead stumps. But this is why Ruck says only experts should attempt identifying wild mushrooms.

Don't Edit

Flickr

Puffballs

Puffballs, according to White, are easy to distinguish because they look just like that — a ball. As the mushroom matures, the spores will cause the ball to become puffy.

However, it's important to note that puffballs are only edible in their younger years. They cannot be eaten once mature.

Don't Edit

Flickr

False puffballs

But, once again, there’s often an evil twin lurking. Meet the “false puffball,” also known as the “earth ball.” False puffballs, which have thicker skins covering its flesh, can resemble puffballs in their early years. According to White, it’s a good idea to cut into them to be sure. When you cut into a puffball, it should have a structureless smooth white flesh inside, and then, as it matures, it will become yellowish or even darken to green, brown or purple.

Don't Edit

If I cooked the mushroom, does that kill the poison?

No, according to Ruck, cooking “generally does not make it less harmful.”

Don't Edit

Can pets be poisoned?

Yes, pets like dogs can “suffer serious health injuries and even death from eating wild mushrooms,” according to the state Poison Control Center.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Pixabay

What should I do if I think I ate a poisonous mushroom?

Call the Poison Control Center's Poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222 immediately to get medical attention or information you need. The helpline is free and available 24/7 to New Jersey residents.

Don't Edit

Should I save the mushroom in question?

Yes, absolutely. The Poison Center can arrange for an expert to identify the mushroom.

To preserve the mushroom in question:

Remove any remaining parts of the mushroom from the person's mouth and place those fragments and all mushrooms into one or more paper (no plastic) bags.

Take a digital photo of the mushroom you think may be poisonous. The Poison Control Center says it helps to take a picture of the mushroom next to other objects such as a coin, ruler to give experts a sense of scale.

Don't Edit

Other news about how nature can kill us:

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us. nj.com/tips