Death cap mushrooms are popping up in Oak Bay, prompting a warning from the district.
In a June 26 statement, the district advised residents of death cap mushrooms growing in the region. Death cap mushrooms are extremely toxic and can cause severe illness or be lethal if ingested by people, especially children, and are very dangerous to pets.
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They can be identified by their pale yellowish colour, large cap and the skirting underneath.
If you suspect you or someone in your care has eaten a poisonous mushroom, Oak Bay advises attending the nearest hospital or calling the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911 or calling 911.
The district also recommends keeping a sample of the mushroom for testing.
If residents find death cap mushrooms growing on their property, the district recommends wearing rubber gloves when removing them (then washing hands thoroughly). They should also be disposed of in garbage containers – not compost or other green bin programs – and they should be removed prior to moving the lawn to avoid local spread.
When removing the mushroom from the ground, the bulbous base needs to be removed as well.
For more information, go to islandhealth.ca or bccdc.ca.
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