According to provincial forest pathologist Harry Kope (British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development), one of the world害羞草研究所檚 most dangerous mushrooms has been found growing in Comox.

害羞草研究所淚 have been informed that what appears to be Amanita phalloides (Death cap mushroom) has been found fruiting in Comox, close to Filberg Park,害羞草研究所� reads the email, sent by Kope to a local community health network. 害羞草研究所淭his is a first finding of the mushroom outside of greater Vancouver and Victoria.

害羞草研究所淒eath cap mushrooms are a high health risk in urbananized environments. Death cap mushrooms are extremely poisonous and closely resemble some edible mushroom from Asia. Eating them may lead to liver and kidney damage, or death. People should educate themselves to keep their children and pets away from this species.害羞草研究所�

When contacted by The Record, Kope confirmed the discovery as authentic.

害羞草研究所淪omeone on Facebook posted a picture of the mushroom and said it was in the Comox Valley,害羞草研究所� said Kope. 害羞草研究所淭here was some follow-up, and on Oct. 26 someone went out and collected it, and confirmed that it is [a death cap].害羞草研究所�

Kope said that while only a single mushroom was discovered, chances are good that there are more in the area.

害羞草研究所淪pores are wind-spread害羞草研究所� it can be carried on roots of trees, and plants. How fast it can get around is really hard to say. But assuming that one that fruited was allowed to sporulate, those spores can carry into the wind, and they can [spread]. Just because there was that one mushroom found, there may be more of them coming to this area. To say there害羞草研究所檚 just that one害羞草研究所� [that害羞草研究所檚] unlikley.害羞草研究所�

Vancouver Island has recorded at least one human death due to the ingestion of the death cap mushroom. In October of 2016, a child died after eating one that was picked in downtown Victoria.

A puppy also died from ingesting a death cap mushroom in Victoria, last year.

害羞草研究所淚 went to the neighbourhood where this puppy had eaten that mushroom and there were lots and lots of different ones,害羞草研究所� said Kope. 害羞草研究所淪o why did he go for that one? So that害羞草研究所檚 part of the concern害羞草研究所� maybe there害羞草研究所檚 something about these that attracts dogs. So don害羞草研究所檛 let your dogs investigate them, or eat them.害羞草研究所�

For up to date information about the death cap mushroom, characteristics, and what to do if ingested, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website:

terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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