You're offline — showing cached data

Loading conditions…

Croatan NF Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

🚗 Get Directions

Croatan NF

0–150 ft · NC🚗 Directions

S

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 Aug 27, 4:19 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Croatan NF — S Tier | August 27, 2026 You're looking at a textbook late-summer flush in full swing. Sustained soil temps at nearly 78°F paired with 2.37" of rain over the past week and flat-zero drought stress have unlocked essentially every warm-season species in the catalog. The moisture trigger is locked in—0.29 VWC is clean, consistent, and holding across the 7-day average. No limiting factors means you're not choosing *if* things fruit; you're choosing *which patch* to hit. Priority targets: Chanterelle and black trumpet colonies are peaking; Chicken of the Woods is aggressive on stressed hardwoods right now; any bolete (Bay, Two-Colored, Aspen) will be fleshy and bug-free given the recent moisture. The polypores (Reishi, Artist's Conk, Turkey Tail) are equally dialed in and work as backup if ground foraging gets crowded. Avoid the toxic lookalikes in the list—Death Cap, Panther Cap, Deadly Webcap—they're viable too, which means they're out there. No decay yet. Watch for a moisture drop if we don't get rain in the next 72 hours; soil temps could climb past the comfort zone, and that'll compress your window fast. **Hot tip:** Hedgehog mushrooms and Chanterelles share habitat here—find a good chanterelle zone and work the deadfall simultaneously for hedgehogs; double your haul without rescouting.

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 Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

Found something?

Log your find on iNaturalist to help the community and get expert ID assistance. Photos, location, and habitat notes all help with identification.

Log on iNaturalist View recent finds nearby →

Nearby Camping

Within(3)

Dogwood Family Campground

developed

~7.8 mi from center

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 MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

ReishiGanoderma tsugae

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pink-Tipped CoralRamaria botrytis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Saffron Milk CapLactarius deliciosus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Panther CapAmanita pantherina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pig's EarsGomphus clavatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bleeding ToothHydnellum peckii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gypsy MushroomCortinarius caperatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The PrinceAgaricus augustus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bay BoleteImleria badia

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Painted BoleteSuillus spraguei

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken-Fat BoleteSuillus americanus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp RussulaRussula xerampelina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The SickenerRussula emetica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Short-Stemmed RussulaRussula brevipes

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly WebcapCortinarius rubellus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bloody WebcapCortinarius sanguineus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bleeding AgaricusAgaricus haemorrhoidarius

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sweet ToothHydnum umbilicatum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red CoralRamaria araiospora

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Fly AgaricAmanita muscaria var. guessowii

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scaly Wood MushroomAgaricus silvaticus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lobster MushroomHypomyces lactifluorum

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Slippery JackSuillus luteus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hawks Wing

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Amanita Muscaria

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.29 VWC, 7d avg 0.29 — 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.