Overview

• Foragers are beginning to find classic edibles in German forests after early September rains, with peak weeks typically falling in September and early October.
• Researchers at the University of Bayreuth say about 20% of Bavaria’s macroscopic fungi are threatened due to habitat loss and climate change, and the university will host “Bayreuther Pilztage” on October 11–12 to engage the public.
• Safety guidance urges collecting only mushrooms you can identify, noting lethal lookalikes such as the death cap and advising use of regional poison hotlines for suspected poisoning.
• Regulations emphasize small personal quantities of roughly 1–2 kilograms per person per day, bans on collecting in protected areas and for resale, and careful cutting or twisting rather than ripping.
• Food advice highlights using baskets instead of plastic, prompt refrigeration or same-day use, thorough cleaning, and cooking most wild mushrooms for at least 15 minutes while cautioning against reliance on photo-based ID apps.