By Tove Tupper
 
May 28, 2009
 
NEAR PROSPECT, Ore. - Commercial mushroom hunters are taking over the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
 
U.S. Forest Service officials say they've seen a large increase in morel mushroom pickers this year due to last summer's Lonesome Complex Fire. Burnt forest land stimulates the growth of mushrooms.
 
Commercial pickers travel throughout the Northwest looking for mushrooms after forest fires. Foresters say pickers can harm the land if they are not careful.
 
"The mushroom picking itself, unless your getting every single mushroom, it's probably not too big of a deal. But we monitor that. We give out permits to try and keep track of how many mushrooms are being picked," says USFS Forester Judd Lehman.
 
Law enforcement officials say they are also concerned about illegal picking, which is picking is not allowed in designated wilderness areas. Some areas of the Lonesome Fire Complex land are also restricted at this time.
 
All pickers are required to have a permit. There are two types of permits. Personal use permits are free. Commercial permits cost $20. The permits are given out through USFS.