Forest Comics: Mushroom season has started in 16 regions
Mushroom pickers have already begun to actively go out on a "silent hunt" in at least 16 Russian regions — in the south and in the center of the country, in Siberia, the Volga region, the Urals and the Far East. In the Moscow region, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk regions, for example, morels are found, and in two weeks you can expect honey mushrooms and podberezovikov. Doctors warn that it is necessary to collect only those mushrooms that a person is sure of, which he recognizes and cannot make a mistake. They do not recommend looking for mushrooms at a distance of less than 500 m from highways and closer than 2-3 km from agricultural fields and industrial facilities. What mushrooms can be found now, how to cook them properly and how not to get lost in the forest — in the Izvestia article.
Mushroom garrison
The mushroom season has begun in at least 16 regions of Russia, Izvestia calculated, analyzing data from regional mass media and social networks. Mushrooms are already being harvested, for example, in the forests of the Central Federal District — in the Moscow, Yaroslavl, Tver and Kaluga regions.
In the Moscow region, you can already find morels and stitches, and in rare cases even truffles, social media users say. And in the Tver region, people collect sarcoscyphs.
"We had scarlet elf bowls, or grandmother's ears (sarcoscyphs), for the May Day table," wrote one of the residents of the village of Zashishevye in the Tverskaya community.
In the Omsk, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk regions, locals also find morels, including cap mushrooms (a type of morels). Along with stitches and morels, they are also found by residents of the Yaroslavl and Leningrad regions.
Mushrooms also went to some regions of the Southern, Siberian, Far Eastern and Ural Federal districts.
Marsupial mushrooms are the first to grow after the snow melts, said Maxim Dyakov, a leading specialist at the Department of Mycology and Algology at the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University. It is to this department in the kingdom of mushrooms that morels, stitches, sarcoscyphs and morel caps belong.
— The strobilaurus mushroom is also among the first to grow after winter. It can often be found on and around fallen fir cones. Another mushroom characteristic of May is the ryadovka," the expert added.
If it gets warmer, honey mushrooms, blueberries and porcini mushrooms may come in two weeks, Maxim Dyakov promised.
How to avoid poisoning
The most common cause of food poisoning by mushrooms is the use of poisonous or conditionally edible mushrooms, Rospotrebnadzor recalled. In some cases, it occurs due to improper cooking, as well as picking mushrooms in places where they accumulate heavy metal salts and pesticides.
"The mushroom may become toxic due to a long drought or due to the treatment of the territory with pesticides or pesticides," the ministry warned. — Mushrooms are a difficult-to-digest product, they contain a lot of mushroom fiber, which makes it difficult for digestive juices to access digested substances. The most common of the dangerous mushrooms in Russia are the pale toadstool and the fringed galerina."
It is important to know exactly which mushrooms are edible and which are not, added Nadezhda Podkorytova, Chief Physician of Invitro-Ural.
— If you are going mushroom picking for the first time, be sure to invite an experienced mushroom picker who will help you distinguish dangerous specimens from edible ones, — she advised.
The expert also recalled that mushrooms absorb substances from the environment, so they need to be collected at a distance of at least 500 m from highways and 2-3 km from agricultural fields and various production facilities.
Mushroom poisoning is most severe among people with poor health and children, the Rospotrebnadzor warned. The child's body does not yet have the necessary amount of enzymes to digest them. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning, according to her, can appear in the period from half an hour to a day after eating. The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and weakness.
At the first sign of a deterioration in health, an ambulance should be called, Nadezhda Podkorytova emphasized.
— Before the doctors arrive, you need to take sorbents and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. But in no case should you drink alcohol, take antiemetics or painkillers — this can make diagnosis more difficult and worsen the condition," the doctor added.
How to cook mushrooms
Only the white mushroom, the real mushroom and the common ginger are certainly edible mushrooms, Rospotrebnadzor noted. These mushrooms can be used to cook mushroom dishes without pre-boiling. Do not marinate or salt mushrooms in galvanized or glazed earthenware dishes.
Before cooking, mushrooms must be thoroughly cleaned of soil and debris, and then rinsed with running water, warned Ekaterina Kashukh, a doctor at the Hemotest laboratory.
— It is especially important to do this if home conservation is planned: even the smallest pieces of soil may contain botulism pathogens. And in hermetically sealed jars, ideal conditions are created for their growth and reproduction," she stressed.
After that, according to Ekaterina Kashukh, it is necessary to remove the skin from the caps and carefully peel the top layer from the legs, since it is there that most harmful substances accumulate, soak the mushrooms in salted water for 4-6 hours or boil for half an hour, and then drain the broth.
Nadezhda Podkorytova noted that mushrooms are harmful to people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver. A healthy adult can eat 50-100 grams of mushrooms a day, she reminded. Rospotrebnadzor does not recommend feeding any mushrooms to children under 14 years of age.
How not to get lost in the forest
Mushroom pickers often get lost in forests: carried away by collecting, they leave the familiar route deep into the forest, losing their bearings, the Interior Ministry told Izvestia. Their situation is aggravated by the onset of dusk, the discharge of the phone, the navigator, or a sudden deterioration in well-being. Once alone and helpless, they can become easy prey for predatory animals or die from the cold. Such accidents are not isolated, the department recalled.
Before going to the forest, it is important to inform your loved ones of your route and the approximate time of return, the Ministry of Emergency Situations added. In this case, it will be possible to act promptly if the mushroom picker did not return on time.
"When going to the forest, be sure to take with you the most necessary things, namely: a compass, a knife, matches, salt, a charged mobile phone, a small food ration, and light spare clothes. Pack matches and clothes in polythene so that they do not get wet in case of rain," the department's memo says.
Rescuers advise choosing bright-colored clothes for hiking in the forest, as it will allow you to spot a person among green trees and bushes. It is important to bring a hat, choose long trousers and comfortable shoes.
"Before entering the forest, find out where the main landmarks are located: roads, rivers, streams, settlements, in order to schematically imagine the boundaries of the area in which you will walk. Use the compass to determine the cardinal directions to know in which direction you will return," the ministry added.
If a person is lost, they should try to contact their loved ones or the emergency services, rescuers said. It is important to stop, listen and determine if you can hear any sounds, such as the sound of a river or highway. Clearings and trails can also become a landmark. It is better not to go into the forest from them.
"Pay attention to the stumps as well — if there are characteristic sawn marks, it means that somewhere nearby there is a trace of machinery that removed the fallen timber. These tracks will lead to a logging road, which means to people. After coming to a stream or small river in the forest, go downstream," the Ministry of Emergency Situations recommended.
Rescuers also advise against shouting too loudly and often, so as not to break your voice. They recommend hitting trees with a stick to make a sound signal. All sounds should be repeated rhythmically three times. Rescuers also noted that to attract attention and keep warm, you can build a campfire. But, according to them, this should be done, keeping in mind the observance of fire safety rules in the forest.
According to the Aviation Security Service, a special fire protection regime has been introduced in 53 regions. During its operation, access to the forest is restricted, burning of dry grass, debris and fire-hazardous work is prohibited within the boundaries of rural and urban settlements, on lands of all categories.
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