Bad picks from the forest

Foragers beware: These 10 mushroom species can kill you!

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Going mushroom hunting in the woods during the fall or spring can be a fun and rewarding activity. However, it is important to first learn how to differentiate between edible and poisonous fungi. Depending on the species, mushrooms can pose different dangers. Some may cause minor indigestion, while others can be fatal. In this article, we’ll unmask 10 dangerous mushrooms you should stay away from. Do you know which species is responsible for the most mushroom-related fatalities each year?

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When we think of mushrooms, the first image that often comes to mind is a cute little red cap covered in white dots. Amanita muscaria is the classic mushroom found in children's books and is likely the most photographed mushroom in the world. But did you know it can be dangerous?

This mushroom’s colloquial name, fly agaric, probably derives from its traditional use as a fly killer. It has also been used throughout history in religious rites for its hallucinogenic properties. However, the presence of several toxins can produce other effects as well, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although it is not the most poisonous of all mushrooms, it’s best not to be seduced by its charming appearance—stay away from it.

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Cortinarius orellanus is a medium-sized mushroom with a cylindrical yellowish stem, an orange-brown cap, saffron-colored gills, and yellowish flesh. Commonly known as the fool’s webcap, it is native to Europe and is typically found in mountain forests. It prefers moist, organic-rich soils and is most prevalent during the summer and fall months.

The fool’s webcap is one of the most poisonous mushrooms known to exist. It contains orellanin, a nephrotoxic compound that can cause severe kidney damage in humans. Symptoms of poisoning—including lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—can take several days to appear, making diagnosis and treatment especially difficult.

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This species is considered one of the few toxic members of the Boletus genus. In the areas where it grows—warmer regions of Europe—it is feared for its poisonous effects, which appear shortly after ingestion. Although caution is warranted, it is not a deadly mushroom; however, it can cause dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal pain.

Despite bearing some resemblance to edible mushrooms, its size often gives it away. Satan’s bolete can reach up to 20 inches in width, and it is not uncommon to find specimens weighing around 4.5 pounds. Its cap is beige, it has a bulbous red stem, its flesh is light yellow and turns blue when cut, and it emits a notably unpleasant odor.

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Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known as the liberty cap, is a mushroom known for its psychotropic effects. It grows mainly in humid and temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in Europe. It has a distinctive nipple-shaped cap, and its color ranges from whitish when young to brown as it matures. The mushroom has a bitter taste.

Although the liberty cap is considered to have low toxicity, its ingestion can produce a range of effects, including altered perception of space and time. It may also cause temporary paranoia, with effects typically lasting between 3 and 6 hours. For this reason, its consumption is not recommended outside of a controlled environment.

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Eating even a single piece of Amanita virosa can cause irreversible liver damage, and you should be especially careful because it can be easily mistaken for edible white-capped species.

In the eastern United States, the destroying angel appears from early summer to early autumn. It has a white cap that is initially ovoid and later flattens with age. The stalk is slender and covered with fine hairs, and it features a membranous ring. Despite its pleasant smell and reportedly good taste, this mushroom is extremely poisonous—ingesting it can result in death.

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The false morel can be found in spring in coniferous forests. Its cap is brain-like, with intricate wrinkles and folds, and its color ranges from light brown to reddish brown depending on humidity.

Despite its scientific name—Gyromitra esculenta ("esculenta" meaning "edible")—the false morel is highly toxic unless properly prepared. In some individuals, it can be dangerous even after cooking; its toxins are volatile, and poisoning can occur by inhaling the fumes released during boiling. Nevertheless, the false morel remains a popular mushroom in some European countries, such as Finland, where it is used in certain traditional dishes. Would you dare to try it?

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Lepiota brunneoincarnata may be tiny in size, but it is unquestionably deadly. It’s important to be able to recognize this mushroom and exercise caution when encountering it in the wild. The good news is that its appearance differs significantly from most edible species, making it less likely to be confused with them.

Commonly known as the deadly dapperling, this mushroom is found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It typically appears during the summer and autumn months in meadows, parks, gardens, shrublands, and along roadsides. It contains a toxin called amatoxin, which is absorbed through the digestive tract and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and vomiting. If not treated promptly, it can lead to death within a week.

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Galerina marginata, known colloquially as autumn skullcap, is found in coniferous forests across North America, Europe, Asia, Japan, and Australia. Although it can appear at various times of the year, it is most commonly found in autumn. It has a soft brownish color, and its cap surface is often slimy with a greasy appearance.

Like the deadly dapperling, the autumn skullcap contains amatoxins, which interfere with essential cellular functions. The first symptoms of poisoning appear 6 to 24 hours after ingestion. It can cause renal failure and eventually death if not treated within the first four days.

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Entoloma sinuatum is responsible for numerous cases of poisoning, as it can be mistaken for several edible species. At first glance, the body of the livid pinkgill looks like a classic field mushroom—its cap often displays a creamy light gray color. It typically grows in clay and limestone-rich soils, especially in beech and oak forests across Europe and parts of North America.

Although it does not have an unpleasant taste, you shouldn’t eat it. It can cause severe gastrointestinal disorders, including persistent diarrhea and vomiting, which may last for several days, and in some cases, up to two weeks.

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The death cap (Amanita phalloides) accounts for the vast majority of mushroom poisoning deaths worldwide—hence its name. Consuming less than 2 ounces of this mushroom is enough to be fatal; an even smaller dose can kill a child and cause severe poisoning in adults.

Native to the United Kingdom and parts of Ireland, the death cap has rapidly spread over the past century to Australia and North America. It can grow up to 6 inches tall and has a domed cap sometimes tinged yellow or green, along with a white stem, which makes it difficult to distinguish from some edible mushrooms. Even its spores are poisonous. Therefore, if you have handled a death cap, avoid touching your mouth and always wash your hands thoroughly before eating.

Don’t say her name in the mirror thrice: 10 legendary ghosts, decoded

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These days, it seems every city offers a ghost tour, every building over fifty years old claims cases of the supernatural, and every cemetery has a list of reported specter sightings. But the fascination with ghosts and the retelling of their haunted stories are as old as humanity. Let’s look into the names of some of the world’s best-known legendary ghosts and the eerie tales that have been passed down for generations.

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The legend warns never to stand in front of a mirror and chant Bloody Mary’s name three times—unless you want her ghostly figure to appear before you, accompanied by supernatural, violent, and frightening illusions.

Her name is tied to a mix of historical and mythical figures. One origin points to Queen Mary I of England, nicknamed "Bloody Mary" for her persecution of Protestants. Other possible inspirations include Mary Worth, an alleged witch, or Elizabeth Báthory, a Hungarian noblewoman infamous for her cruelty.

This folkloric figure is widespread across many cultures, to the point that some believe she is a benevolent, helpful spirit, while others insist that she only returns to haunt those who disturb her.

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Made world-famous by the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the Flying Dutchman is a maritime ghost story that originated in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age of sailing.

It is a ghost ship said to haunt the seas for eternity, often appearing to sailors as a glowing specter on the ocean. The legend originates from accounts of a Dutch captain and his crew attempting to cross a storm near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The captain sealed his own fate when he swore that he would continue through the storm, even if it took until Judgment Day. As a result, he and his crew were condemned to wander forever, as a symbol of bad omen for sailors.

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Unrelated to any bells and not necessarily a witch, the Bell Witch is a ghostly figure tied to a Tennessee farm since the early 19th century.

As the story goes, the Bell family lived on a farm near a cave where they frequently encountered disembodied voices, physical assaults, and poltergeist-like activity. They began referring to this unknown supernatural entity as a "witch" due to its unexplained and malevolent behavior.

The family blamed the sudden death of John Bell on this spirit, though they also reported acts of kindness from it, such as bringing out-of-season fruit to the widow, Lucy Bell, while she was ill. The whole mystery lived on and today the nearby cave is still known as the Bell Witch Cave.

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Imagine stopping your car on a deserted road in the middle of the night to pick up a hitchhiker, letting him climb into the backseat—only to turn around mid-conversation and find the seat empty.

The "Vanishing Hitchhiker" is a ghostly figure encountered along lonely roads worldwide. Variants of the story place him in different locations, from the U.S. to Europe, yet all follow a similar narrative.

The legend dates back to at least the 1870s, but older versions intertwine with religious folklore, in which gods or spirits disguise themselves as travelers to test human kindness—such as Hawaii’s tale of the goddess Pele.

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Often tied to the waterways of Mexico, the name La Llorona translates to "The Weeping Woman." She is so named for her mournful cries near the water, where she weeps for the children she tragically lost.

According to legend, she drowned her own children in a fit of rage and despair after being abandoned by her husband. Overcome with grief, she took her own life and was doomed to roam the earth, searching for the souls of her babies and lamenting her loss.

Some variations spread throughout South America tell of just one son who drowned accidentally, while others trace the legend back to similar figures, such as the Slavic Rusalka—spirits of women who died near water and now haunt it.

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Madam Koi Koi comes from a Nigerian urban legend—a spirit said to haunt boarding schools. She is believed to appear to students in their dormitories at night, her arrival announced by the clicking of her high heels in the corridors, a sound (koi koi) that gave her the name.

According to the tale, Madam Koi Koi was once a beautiful but strict teacher known for her elegant red heels. After being dismissed from her job for striking a student, she died in a tragic accident on her way home.

Before she died, she vowed never to leave the school. The legend varies, but most versions describe her as a vengeful spirit enforcing discipline on misbehaving children.

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Washington Irving made the story of the Headless Horseman widely known with his short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820). The ghostly rider is said to haunt the small New York town near the Old Dutch Church, searching for his missing head.

Today, Sleepy Hollow’s ghost is a favorite Halloween icon. However, Irving likely drew inspiration from local legends and similar folklore. European tales already featured headless riders, such as the fearsome Irish Dullahan, a headless spirit who brings death while carrying his severed head in his fist, and the German Wild Huntsman, who was said to haunt forests.

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The Ewe people of Ghana, Togo, and Benin have their own version of a vampire: the Adze, a shapeshifting creature that transforms not into a bat, but into a firefly.

This tiny, unassuming insect form allows the spirit to infiltrate homes unnoticed. Once inside, it sucks the blood of sleeping victims, causing them to fall ill and die. If caught, the creature transforms into a humanoid figure with the ability to possess people.

This African sinister being likely originated from a widespread fear of disease-carrying insects and the need to explain seemingly random illnesses within communities.

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The Ghost of Queen Esther is tied to the forests near Athens, Pennsylvania, and the banks of the Susquehanna River. Queen Esther is believed to have been a Native American of Iroquois descent who led a village in the late 18th century, around the time of the American Revolutionary War.

The legend stems from the Wyoming Massacre of 1778, when Native American warriors and British Loyalists clashed with settlers. Following the death of her son, Queen Esther allegedly retaliated by leading a raid that resulted in the deaths of several settlers—as well as her own. According to the tale, her dying words cursed the land, and her ghost is said to haunt the area, seeking retribution.

Local hunters have reported seeing her spectral figure in the forests or hearing ghostly screams in the night. The "Curse of Queen Esther" remains a prominent legend along the river.

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The Bloody Bride is the ghost of a young woman who died in a horrific accident near Stevens Point, Wisconsin, along Highway 66. This site, and particularly the so-called Bloody Bride Bridge, is said to be where she met her tragic end on her wedding night.

According to the tale, a newlywed couple was involved in a car crash on the bridge while returning from their wedding. The eerie stories claim that she can still be seen wandering the bridge, distraught, or that she mysteriously appears in the backseats of drivers as they cross the bridge.

Ghost stories about tragic brides are not unique to this location, of course. Similar legends have existed worldwide for centuries, such as the "White Lady" figures found in European folklore.