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Western KY / Pennyrile Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Western KY / Pennyrile

350–700 ft · KY🚗 Directions

S

Western Coalfield and Pennyrile region — Pennyrile SF, Mammoth Cave NP, and the Land Between the Lakes east shore. Bottomland hardwoods (sycamore, elm, sweetgum, hackberry) along the Green and Cumberland river systems with upland white oak / hickory ridges. Classic flatland morel country — peak yellow morel territory in the dying-elm and tulip poplar bottoms during late March / early April. Chanterelles after summer storms; chicken-of-the-woods on white and post oak.

Trees:Sycamore White Oak Sweetgum

Updated Jul 13, 4:21 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**S-Tier Reading: Western KY/Pennyrile – Full Flush Conditions** This is a rare ceiling event: seven consecutive days of sustained soil warmth (76.5°F holds above threshold), paired with 4+ inches of recent rain and locked-in VWC at 0.33 across the board. You're seeing near-total species viability—69 taxa flagged high, zero limiting factors. The Pennyrile's mixed hardwood and disturbed understory will light up across saprophytes, parasites, and wood-decomposers simultaneously. Focus your effort on *Chicken of the Woods* and *Wine Caps* in oak/hardwood zones (peak flush window closing soon in July heat), *Giant Puffballs* in open disturbed ground, and the entire suite of summer milk caps and boletes where moisture persists longest. Wood lovers like *Turkey Tail*, *Jelly Ear*, and *Artist's Conk* will sustain longest. *Stinkhorns* (Ravenel's, Elegant, Lantern) are now actively fruiting—watch for them in mulch and wood chip areas. No limiting factors means weather swing is your only threat: watch the forecast for a dry spell that could collapse this in 48–72 hours. Soil temp will hold, but VWC loss ends everything fast. **Hot tip:** Hit dense oak understory for wine caps and indigo milk caps *tonight or early tomorrow*—the warm, wet soil window for Lactarius species closes hard once heat stress sets in mid-week.

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

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Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black Trumpet

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying Angel

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blusher

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded Puffball

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Patches

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cordyceps

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening Russula

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Grisette

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash Cup

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested Coral

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite Bolete

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted Collybia

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Deceiver

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 77°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.33 VWC, 7d avg 0.33 — 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.