Campbell Primary School
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25 Chauvel Street
Campbell ACT 2612
Subscribe: https://campbellps.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: campbellps@ed.act.edu.au
Phone: 02 6142 3580

Managing Death Cap Mushrooms growing on school grounds

The Death Cap mushroom (Amanita Phalloides) is a deadly poisonous fungus. They often grow near established oak trees, and are found when there is warm, wet weather. In Canberra this usually occurs in autumn but there is no specific mushroom season. There have been multiple incidents and fatalities associated with Death Cap mushrooms.

Recent weather in the ACT has provided ideal growing conditions for many varieties of mushrooms, including Death Cap mushrooms, which are appearing in lawns, playgrounds and sporting fields. 

It can be extremely difficult for even experienced collectors to distinguish Death Cap mushrooms from an edible mushroom. People should not pick or eat wild  mushrooms, and should talk to their families, friends and neighbours about the dangers of Death Cap mushrooms. Cooking Death Cap mushrooms does not make them safe.

If someone has or is suspected to have eaten a mushroom growing on school grounds, seek urgent medical attention and keep any remaining mushroom for the hospital to identify. Eating Death Caps can cause severe illness and death. Symptoms of poisoning can include stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. For more information on Death Cap Mushrooms, including a list of translated resources, visit the ACT Health website: Fact Sheets | Health.