Invasive Fungus Now Threatens Michigan Forests: DNR Sounds Alarm

You know those vibrant golden oyster mushrooms you see in Pinterest-perfect kitchen gardens and TikTok grow-kit videos? Yeah, those sunny little fungi have officially gone rogue—and they've brought their funky spores to Michigan.

RELATED: Urgent Warning For Michigan From Pittsburgh: SQUISH THIS BUG

What Makes Golden Oyster Mushrooms Invasive

According to an official State of Michigan press release, the invasive fungus, originally from Asia, golden oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) were meant to stay in cute countertop boxes. But they've escaped into the wild like your neighbor's pet turtle—except these mushrooms multiply, not slowly walk off and disappear.

A recent study published in The Conversation found these mushrooms are now full-blown invasive thugs in Wisconsin. Once they latch onto a tree, they dramatically reduce fungal diversity—sometimes by more than half.

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That's bad news, because Michigan's forests depend on native fungi to decompose wood, cycle nutrients, support wildlife, and keep ecosystems balanced. These are the things that native mushrooms do when they're not being sautéed.

How Did They Get to Michigan?

Theories range from careless composting to escaped spores from grow kits. Some Michiganders even planted them on backyard logs on purpose, thinking that they're being eco-friendly. Spoiler alert: They're not. These mushrooms aren't native, and they don't play nice with those that are.

How You Can Help (Reporting Tips)

Invasive species like the golden oyster mushrooms are a serious issue for Michigan's natural habitat. Here are some tips to help stop their spread:

• Do NOT compost golden oyster kits. That's basically flinging spores into the wild.
• Keep your mushroom-growing kits indoors. Like your weird uncle at Thanksgiving, save the rest of the neighborhood from their antics.
• If you spot them in the wild, report them to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources or your local extension office.
• Stick to native species for your home growing hobby.

RELATED: Michigan's Indestructible Invasive Species: Japanese Knotweed

You are encouraged to report any golden yellow oyster mushroom sightings at iNaturalist.com.

If there is a silver lining, it's said that these mushrooms are delicious, but Michigan is already fighting off invasive carp, stink bugs, and tourists from Ohio—do we really need an invasive mushroom?