What Montana foragers want people to know before eating wild food

MONTANA — As grocery prices continued to strain family budgets across Montana, some people in western Montana turned to foraging as a way to save money.

In Missoula's Greenough Park, edible greens, flowers and mushrooms were growing naturally along wooded trails. But experts said people needed to know exactly what they were picking before eating anything.

During a walk through the park, a western Montana wild forager pointed out edible species and explained that small differences in color, shape and location could matter.

"The biggest mistakes that people make are not cooking wild mushrooms. You really, really do need to cook your morals. You really do need to cook any other kind of wild mushrooms that you find here. We've had some deaths over the years, from people eating raw morals," River Shannon Aloia said. "And it's important that you get, 100% identification every single time. But luckily, we have some really great groups here in Missoula and in Montana online that can help you identify plants, mushrooms, trees, all of it," Aloia said. "Learning where these plants and mushrooms grow and getting to know each and every one of them, and also spending time with experts is super important," Aloia said.

Aloia also explained that where people forage mattered just as much as what they picked. Areas treated with herbicides or other chemicals could contaminate plants that might otherwise seem safe to eat.

Experts said beginners should learn from experienced foragers, use trusted field guides and avoid eating anything they could not positively identify.

They also said foraging could help people learn more about Montana's landscape and lower grocery costs by adding fresh ingredients without a trip to the store.

Experts said responsible foraging also meant leaving enough behind for wildlife, the ecosystem and future growth.