Foraging Safety & Disclaimer
Never eat a mushroom, plant, berry or other wild food based only on a photograph or information on this website. Some poisonous species closely resemble edible ones. A mistake can cause serious illness or death.
Take a Proper Book. Learn With a Guide.
Use a current, reputable field guide written for British Columbia or the Pacific Northwest, with detailed descriptions of poisonous look-alikes. Read the identification features and limitations, not just the pictures. A book is a reference, not a substitute for practical identification skills.
Even better, learn in person with an experienced local foraging guide or knowledgeable mushroom specialist. Have each specimen’s identity confirmed by a competent expert before considering it for food. If you are uncertain, leave it where it grows and do not eat it.
Find an Independent B.C. Foraging Guide →
Our Content Has Limits
Forageberry provides general educational information. Our photographs, captions, species profiles, maps, seasonal information, recipes and linked resources may contain mistakes, omissions, outdated information or incorrect identifications. Photographs can show only part of a specimen, a representative group or a different stage of growth. Colour and appearance vary with lighting, age and location.
Nothing on Forageberry confirms that a specimen you find is correctly identified, edible, uncontaminated, safe to prepare or safe to eat. Recipes assume that ingredients have already been correctly identified and obtained safely. Cooking or drying does not make every poisonous species safe.
Reader Photographs & Stories
Community photographs, contest entries, find stories and recipes are supplied by readers. Publication or moderation is not expert verification of species identity, edibility, location or food safety. Do not use a reader’s photograph or claim as confirmation of your own find.
Maps, Access & Harvesting
Our maps show broad planning information and recorded ecosystem associations, not verified picking spots or permission to enter or harvest. Independently check land ownership, access rules, permits, closures, contamination advisories, weather and current conditions. Shellfish and coastal foods require current official harvesting and water-quality information.
Your Decisions & Responsibility
You are responsible for deciding whether, where and how to forage, identify, handle, prepare and consume wild foods. Forageberry does not provide an identification service, individual safety assessment, medical advice or guided outings.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Forageberry disclaims warranties about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this content and liability for injury, illness, loss or damage arising from reliance on it or on linked third-party content. Nothing in this notice excludes rights or liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Independent Guides & External Websites
Our directory links to independent businesses and educators to help you find local learning opportunities. A listing is not a certification, guarantee or safety endorsement. Forageberry does not operate their trips or handle their bookings. Check the provider’s qualifications, experience, insurance, terms and suitability for your needs directly with them.
If You Suspect Poisoning
In B.C., call the Drug and Poison Information Centre immediately at 1-800-567-8911. If someone is unconscious, having a seizure, having difficulty breathing or experiencing chest pain, call 911.
BC Centre for Disease Control: Poison Information ↗
Updated October 9, 2026.