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Croatan NF Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Croatan NF

0–150 ft · NC🚗 Directions

A

Croatan National Forest on the NC coastal plain between New Bern and Morehead City — longleaf and loblolly pine savannas, pocosins, Atlantic white cedar swamps, and bottomland hardwoods along the Neuse and White Oak rivers. Chanterelles, indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo), and lion's mane abundant after summer rains. Oysters and hen-of-the-woods on hardwood snags. Long year-round season due to mild climate.

Trees:Longleaf Pine Loblolly Pine Bald Cypress

Updated Jul 13, 4:17 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Croatan NF – July 13, 2026 | Tier A Croatan is firing on all cylinders right now: sustained soil warmth (79°F), consistent moisture over two weeks (2.91"), and zero drought stress have unlocked the entire spectrum of summer fruiting. You're looking at 63 viable species across all guilds—saprobes, wood decomposers, mycorrhizals, even slime molds. This is a peak generalist window where the only real constraint is *you*, not the forest. The limiting factor here is desiccation risk, which means this flush won't hold indefinitely. Heat and low humidity will compress your harvest window; prioritize high-traffic areas (trails, disturbed soil) where oysters, chanterelles, and wine caps will fruit earliest and hardest. Wood-fruiting species (chicken of the woods, turkey tail, reishi) are your insurance policy—they'll persist longer than ground-fruiting types. Watch the next 5 days for volatility. If temps stay above 78°F and we don't get another 0.5" rain, the soil VWC will drop fast and the burst will taper by mid-week. **Hot tip:** Hit disturbed sandy patches and rotting hardwood near the water table first—oysters and wine caps will peak 24–48 hours before bolete squadrons finish fruiting.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential75/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(2)

Flanners Beach/Neuse River Campground

developed

USFS~9.1 mi from centerFee required/night

National Forests in North Carolina

Long Point Camping

developed

~9.2 mi from center

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Oyster Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black Trumpet

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Reishi

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Panther Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Prince

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken-Fat Bolete

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Sickener

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scaly Wood Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 79°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.24 VWC, 7d avg 0.23 — moisture sustained)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.