Learn about the lifestyle and habitat of burn morels with modern forager and current NAMA president, Trent Blizzard.

Forest fires are a tragic event, but there is a silver lining. As the forest regenerates in the years following a burn, certain species of morels grow like crazy in the charred terrain. Some of these pyrophilous ('fire-loving') morel species appear to be exclusive to burned areas.

While growing predominantly in the Western half of the US, they may occasionally also be found in the Upper Midwest.

Learn how to find these morels in last year’s burns by locating the right terrain, elevation, aspect and forest types. Special attention will be given to online maps and pre-foraging research.

Above is an example of a burn severity map, from the Antelope fire in Northern California, depicting data from a differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR). dNBR is a spectral based algorithm based on tree canopy. More information (& more maps) on modernforager.com

---

---

Self-proclaimed modern forager Trent Blizzard resides in Cable, Wisconsin with Kristen, his wife.  He has been trekking the forests of Colorado, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest for years mostly with wild, edible mushrooms in mind. At first a hobby, the hunt for mushrooms quickly became nothing short of an obsession.  Trent is a certified Wild Mushroom Identification Expert in Colorado, and a few other states.  As a modern forager, he utilizes digital mapping, social media, GPS, phone apps, and even satellite internet while on the road.

You will find all of these adventures and more at modernforager.com

Trent and Kristen Blizzard are also the authors of Wild Mushrooms: A Cookbook and Foraging Guide. Whether you are a seasoned forager or new to the wild and wonderful word of edible forest fungi, this book has something for you! You will find a wealth of tips and tricks for harvesting each mushroom, along with general cooking techniques and preservation methods. They endeavor to explore not only a selection of delicious cuisine and new methods of cooking these wild edibles, but the question of how to preserve and enjoy your harvests all year long. The book is also a celebration of people they have met over the years. You may find stories, tips and well-loved recipes from some of your own friends in here!

2019 Colorado burn morels from the Lake Christine fire, image courtesy modernforager.com