It’s confirmed: Morel mushrooms have been found in the metro.

For one local morel hunter — whom the Pioneer Press is granting anonymity to protect his score — it wasn’t just confirmation that the tasty fungal morsels have indeed sprouted early this year. It was, in his words, “The greatest morel spot I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s really hard to walk,” the hunter says between joyful moans, “because everywhere you go, there are these nasty clumps of morels under foot.”

For the throngs who seek out the meaty mushrooms each spring, this year’s early thaw has meant anxious waiting. Online forums that track the northward appearance of morels have been tense as of late, with some posts claiming morels in central Minnesota met with skepticism.

The Pioneer Press has confirmed that the video was recorded during the afternoon of Tuesday, April 26.

So, it’s on.