Health Officials Warn of Death Cap Mushrooms
Idaho officials urge residents to avoid all wild mushrooms after Death Cap mushrooms were spotted across the Boise Greenbelt.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hiking
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Mushrooms have appeared across the Boise Greenbelt, and officials say they may be Death Cap mushrooms. The Idaho Central District Health Department has issued a warning and urges people to avoid all wild mushrooms at this time.
Why it matters
Death Cap mushrooms have appeared in Idaho before, in 2022 and 2025, and they are dangerous if eaten. Residents in Boise who walk or hike the Greenbelt are the most likely to encounter them.
Officials say the mushrooms may be Death Cap mushrooms, and the warning covers all wild mushrooms rather than only confirmed Death Caps. Death Cap mushrooms first appeared in Idaho in 2022 and reappeared in 2025.
The players
Idaho Central District Health Department
The regional public health agency that serves the Boise area and issued the warning about mushrooms on the Greenbelt.
The details
Mushrooms are growing across the Boise Greenbelt, and health officials are advising people to call The Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 if they suspect ingestion. Pet owners can contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for animal-related concerns.
Timeline
Death Cap mushrooms first appeared in Idaho in 2022.
Death Cap mushrooms appeared in Idaho again in 2025.
The Idaho Central District Health Department issued its warning on November 2, 2026.
Trail Safety Context
Death Cap mushrooms have now been reported in Idaho in 2022, 2025, and again on the Boise Greenbelt in 2026, showing a recurring presence of the species in the region. This pattern places the Greenbelt warning within a multi-year record of Death Cap sightings in Idaho.
Hikers and dog walkers on the Boise Greenbelt should avoid touching or eating any wild mushrooms they encounter. If anyone suspects they have eaten a mushroom, they should call The Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
The takeaway
Staying on marked Greenbelt paths and leaving all wild mushrooms alone is the simplest way to avoid exposure to a dangerous species. Keep the Poison Center number saved in your phone before your next outing.
Further reading
For more on local trails where these mushrooms were spotted, see Hiking in Boise.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Boise State Public Radio.
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