How Do Animals Know Which Mushrooms Are Safe To Eat?

It can be hard for humans to distinguish safe mushrooms from dangerous ones. So, how do animals know which mushrooms are safe to eat and won’t make them sick or kill them? The Death Cap (Amanita phalloides) is a good example. This mushroom is responsible for most fatal mushroom poisonings in humans (just recently, in California, it caused 3 deaths). What makes this species extra tricky is that it can look just like a non-toxic species. That’s why we can’t rely on simple rules like “avoid white mushrooms” or “if it has gills, it’s dangerous.” We need specialized guides, testing, and careful observation since many mushrooms share superficial features.