Photo: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- (Undated) -- Reports are coming in nearly statewide from Iowans who're starting to have some luck finding morel mushrooms, especially in southern Iowa. Iowa State University's Plant Disease Diagnostician Chelsea Harbach says this is the time of year, when morel hunters start to find their treasure. She says morels are mostly commonly found in the forest, growing on dead or dying trees (elm, ash, tulip poplars, black locust, oak, pine. She says morels may also be hidden under leaves on the ground. She says soil temperature is one of the biggest factors in a good morel crop and conditions have been favorable recently for morels. She reminds mushroom hunters to do their homework and brush up on mushroom identification, because some species can be toxic. She notes even black morels can cause an upset stomach.