The poisonous death cap mushroom can be mistaken for other safe varieties.

The poisonous death cap mushroom can be mistaken for other safe varieties.
Photo Credit: Paul Kroeger, mycologist

3-year-old boy dies after eating wild mushroom

A young boy died after picking and eating a poisonous wild mushroom in the western city of Victoria. Foraging for wild foodstuffs has become popular in Canada and health officials are warning about the dangers of picking mushrooms.

Death cap mushrooms were first seen near old chestnut trees in British Columbia in 1997.
Death cap mushrooms were first seen near old chestnut trees in British Columbia in 1997. © Paul Kroeger, mycologist

Mushroom is most lethal

The mushroom in this case was Amanita phalloides, popularly called the death cap mushroom. It is easily mistaken for other varieties and kills more people around the world than any other mushroom.

The death cap mushroom is not native to the region and is thought to have been introduced in the roots of imported hardwood trees planted in the 1960s and 70s.

Young death cap mushrooms can resemble puffballs, but when cut open reveal the death cap developing inside.
Young death cap mushrooms can resemble puffballs, but when cut open reveal the death cap developing inside. © Paul Kroeger, mycologist

Mushrooms poison two others

The family made the death public in order to warn others of the dangers of picking wild mushroom without a good understanding of which varieties are safe and which are not.

If the mushroom is confirmed as responsible, this would be the first recorded death in the province of British Columbia from this type of mushroom. There have been two other significant poisonings since the death cap mushroom was first seen in British Columbia in 1997.

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