The 5 Most Toxic Mushrooms in North America

Foraging has become a huge trend across the U.S., especially in places like Detroit and northern Michigan, where forests, parks, and hiking trails offer plenty of wild mushrooms. While many people now explore functional mushrooms, Medicinal Mushrooms, and the growing world of mushroom health benefits, there’s one rule that every beginner and seasoned forager must follow—know what’s safe and what’s toxic.

North America is home to some extremely dangerous mushrooms. Some of them are so toxic that even a few bites can lead to organ failure. Many also look similar to harmless edible species, making identification tricky. This guide breaks down the five most toxic mushrooms in North America, explained most simply so that anyone—whether you’re exploring Belle Isle Park, the Detroit River trails, or Michigan’s northern woods—can stay safe.

1. Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)

The Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), one of the world’s most poisonous mushrooms, is seen growing naturally on the forest floor.

The name alone should make you stop. The Death Cap is responsible for most mushroom-related deaths worldwide. What makes it even scarier is how “normal” it looks. It often appears pale green or yellowish, with a smooth cap and white gills underneath. It grows near oak trees, so Michigan’s dense oak forests make it a real risk.

What makes the Death Cap so dangerous isn’t just its toxins—it’s the delayed symptoms. Someone may feel fine for hours, but the mushroom is quietly damaging the liver and kidneys. By the time severe symptoms show up, the toxins are already in full effect. No amount of boiling, drying, or cooking can remove its poison.

If you’re foraging anywhere in Michigan after a good rain, especially in areas with oak, this mushroom is one you never want to take home.

2. Destroying Angel (Amanita bisporigera and similar species)

A cluster of Destroying Angel mushrooms (Amanita bisporigera), one of the most toxic wild mushrooms, growing naturally in a woodland environment.

If the Death Cap had a cousin, it would be the Destroying Angel. Pure white, elegant, and almost attractive, this mushroom is one of the deadliest organisms in North America. It grows in wooded areas throughout the Midwest, especially near birch, pine, and oak.

Like the Death Cap, it contains amatoxins—chemicals that shut down liver function. Even a small amount can be fatal. Unfortunately, it resembles several edible mushrooms when young, especially button mushrooms and some puffball stages.

A simple rule for Michigan foragers:
If it is pure white from top to bottom, don’t touch it.

3. Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata)

Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata) mushrooms growing on a decaying log — a small but highly poisonous species often mistaken for edible varieties.

The small, brown, and also inconspicuous toxic Deadly Galerina mushroom is a good example of appearances being deceiving. The Deadly Galerina can be found on decomposing logs, fallen branches, and moss habitats. It generally shows up after a period of heavy rain, especially in Michigan during the late spring and fall. 

New foragers sometimes confuse the Deadly Galerina with the edible honey mushroom or Functional Mushrooms. The problem is that the Deadly Galerina also contains the same amatoxins as the Death Cap and the Destroying Angel, and even a small amount can significantly poison you. 

If you know that a small brown mushroom is growing directly on wood, proceed with caution! Unless you are certain, do not touch it!

4. False Morel (Gyromitra species)

A False Morel (Gyromitra species) showing its distinctive wrinkled, brain-like structure as it grows on a decaying log — a toxic mushroom often mistaken for true morels.

Michigan is well-known for its morel season in the spring, particularly in northern Michigan, as well as in cities like Ann Arbor, Traverse City, and the UP. Because of this, the False Morel is one of the most misidentified toxic mushrooms in the area. True morels are typically identified by their hollow stem and the honeycomb-like pattern. False morels, conversely, have a brain-like and lumpy appearance. They contain the toxin gyromitrin, which metabolizes into a compound that is very similar to rocket fuel and can produce nausea, dizziness and seizures, and death in some cases. In the past, some people who ate the false morels claimed that cooking detoxifies them. However, physicians today are opposed to that claim. The risks are simply too high.

If you’re in Michigan during morel season, double-check every mushroom. When in doubt, cut it open—if the inside isn’t completely hollow, it’s not a true morel.

5. Jack-O’-Lantern Mushroom (Omphalotus illudens)

Jack-O’-Lantern mushrooms (Omphalotus illudens) displaying their vivid orange color and funnel-shaped caps — a toxic species often mistaken for edible chanterelles.

This bright orange mushroom is one of the easiest poisonous mushrooms to identify. On initial inspection, it looks a lot like chanterelles - an edible mushroom that many chefs highly recommend. However, the Jack-O’-Lantern grows on decayed wood in clusters, not spread out on the forest floor like chanterelles.

Another unique characteristic of this mushroom is its faint ability to glow in the dark (hence the name). While this mushroom is not going to kill you like the Death Cap or False Morel, it may cause severe vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. Many foragers in Michigan mistake it for chanterelles, especially late in the summer.

A quick tip:
Chanterelles have forked, wavy ridges, but Jack-O’-Lantern mushrooms have sharp gills. Always check before harvesting.

Staying Safe While Foraging in Detroit & Michigan 

Mushroom foraging is a beautiful hobby. It brings people closer to nature, teaches patience, and helps you understand local ecosystems. Michigan, with its rich forests and wet climate, is one of the best places in the U.S. to explore wild fungi.

But safety has to come first.

Here are a few simple but essential rules:

• If you aren’t 100% sure, don’t eat it.
  
  

• Never rely on a single feature (color, smell, shape) for ID.
  
  

• Remember that toxic mushrooms often mimic edible ones.
  
  

• Join local Detroit or Michigan mycology groups—they offer guided walks.
  
  

• Store and label mushrooms separately to avoid mix-ups.
  
  

• Keep kids and pets away from wild mushrooms during hikes.
  

As you dive deeper into the world of mushrooms - whether toxic mushrooms, functional mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms, or mushroom health benefits - keeping informed is how you keep safe. And for anyone looking to find out more, connect with local mushroom communities, or just explore natural wellness from a new lens, The Shroom Groove is part of a growing trend to provide learning responsibly and safely for people around the region.