What Animals Eat Mushrooms?

Fungi are a vital part of the ecosystem and provide proteins, vitamins and minerals. They also have a number of medicinal properties. They spring up in forests, grasslands, and even in urban gardens. Due to low in carbs, they are popular in keto diet and have several health benefits. But, besides human consumption, people are concerned What animals eat mushrooms? Questions may range, do deer eat mushrooms, do bear eat mushrooms, do raccoons eat mushrooms, do rabbits eat mushrooms, do dogs eat mushrooms and many more. In this post, I will answer all questions.

Mammals That Eat Mushrooms

Deer

A commonly asked question, do deer eat mushrooms? Yes, Deer are among the most common mammals known to consume mushrooms. Deer are herbivores with a diet that varies depending on the season and the available vegetation. Their primary food sources are grasses, clover, and broadleaf plants (forbs), In spring and summer. They eat leaves, twigs, and buds of shrubs and small trees, particularly in the fall and winter when other food is scarce.

Deer love fruits like apples, pears, and berries when they are in season. Among mushrooms, It has been seen that they eat agaricus mushrooms (white) and morel mushrooms mostly.

Deer have the innate ability to consume different types of mushrooms (including poisonous) in their natural environment without adverse effects.

Squirrels

Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa with 58 genera and 285 species. Some common species are Eastern gray squirrel, Red squirrel, Fox squirrel and Ground squirrels. Squirrels eat mushrooms. They eat poisonous mushrooms including death cap mushroom (amanita phalloides). They collect, dry them and store mushrooms for later consumption. Squirrels also play a key role in spore dispersal, inadvertently spreading mushroom spores as they forage and move through the forest.

Squirrels’ favorite natural foods are hickory nuts, pecans, black walnuts, and acorns.

Bears

Bears have a varied diet that includes fungi also. They consume mushrooms but here comes a question how do bears identify poisonous mushrooms. I have done some research on this subject and found that Bears seem to be able to smell mushrooms that contain a poison. If bears eat poisonous mushrooms, they become sick and die.

Wild Boars

Wild boars are highly opportunistic feeders that eat roots, tubers, animals, bulbs and mushrooms. They have a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate underground fungi like truffles. Wild boars primary diet is plants like roots, leaves, stems, seeds and also eat small animals and birds eggs.

Rodents

Do rats and mice eat mushrooms? Rodents such as rats, mice and voles eat mushrooms. Mushrooms can be a good source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber for rodents. Like squirrels, rodents also help in mycorrhizal fungi (spores) dispersal.

Birds That Eat Mushrooms

Crows and Jays

Crows and jays are highly intelligent birds and have been seen eating mushrooms. Canada jays, Siberian jays, and Oregon jays, all eat mushrooms.

Wild Turkeys

Wild turkeys forage on the forest floor and consume small mushrooms that grow on wood or soil and grown on mulch. These ground-dwelling birds are opportunistic feeders and take advantage of the seasonal availability of fungi.

Ruffed grouse

The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a medium-sized bird in forests and most widely distributed game bird in North America. This bird eats mushrooms, grass seeds, and partridge berries.

Larks

Larks are migratory birds, also known as song birds with 90 species worldwide. Their primary food is seeds and insects. They eat truffles (underground mushrooms). By behavior, they find truffles through dirt & litter.

Insects That Eat Mushrooms

Beetles

Beetles are one of the most significant insect groups with 400000 species. Among them, pleasing fungus beetles are bright colored insects (orange, red, and black patterns.) with 3500 species. These beetles eat mushrooms.

Beetles can eat almost anything. They eat Plants (seeds, roots, stems, leaves, fruit, nectar), animals (snails, frogs, spiders & dead animals), Fungi (mushrooms), stored products (foods, clothing), Natural fibers (silk, wool, fur).

Ants

Ants are social insects, everywhere in the world except Antarctica. They are omnivores, eat both plants and animals. They feed leaves, fruits, vegetables, sugar, insects, lizards, amphibians, and insect eggs. Euprenolepis Procera is a nocturnal ant specie in Malaysia that relies on mushrooms as its primary food source. other species of ants that eat mushrooms are Aphaenogaster rudis (North American Specie) and Leaf-cutter ants.

Maggots

Maggots (larvae of flies) primarily feed on decaying organic matter. They thrive in environments where decomposing food, animal carcasses, or rotting plant material are present.

Maggots can eat mushrooms. Some species of flies, such as fungus gnats (family Sciaridae) and certain types of fruit flies like Drosophila lay their eggs on mushrooms. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the mushroom tissue.

Reptiles That Eat Mushrooms

Though less common, some reptiles and amphibians consume mushrooms.

Tortoises

Some species of tortoises like Redfoots, Yellowfoots, Box Turtles, Wood Turtles eat mushrooms. Make sure to avoid poisonous mushrooms to tortoises. All the edibles mushrooms especially store bought like button, chanterelle, porcini, shiitake mushrooms and chestnut mushrooms are good to eat.

Lizard

Some lizards can eat mushrooms. If you have a pet lizard, consult a veterinarian or an expert before feeding it mushrooms.

Do Snakes Eat Mushrooms?

Snakes are everywhere, with about 2900 species. They are carnivorous, don’t eat mushrooms. They are meat eaters, mostly eat birds, rabbits, insects, amphibians, eggs, fish, earthworms, and slugs.

Why Do Animals Eat Mushrooms?

Mushrooms are rich in nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Not all mushrooms are safe for consumption due to toxicity but many species serve as a valuable food source for animals. In fact, mushrooms play an important role in food chains, particularly in forest ecosystems.

For many animals, mushrooms are an easy to access source of energy, especially during seasons when other foods, like fruits or nuts, are scarce. Some, Euprenolepis Procera, Malaysian ants rely only on mushrooms.

The Role of Mushroom-Eating Animals in Ecosystems

The consumption of mushrooms by animals is more than just a dietary habit. Animals that eat mushrooms contribute to the dispersal of fungal spores, which is crucial for the reproduction and spread of fungi. For example:

• Squirrels bury mushrooms, some of which they never return to eat and eventually, fungi grow in new locations.
• Beetles and ants break down mushrooms, accelerate decomposition and nutrient cycling in the soil.

Can All Animals Eat Mushrooms?

Not all animals can safely consume mushrooms. Just as some mushrooms are toxic to humans, they can also be harmful to animals. However, many animals have evolved to recognize which fungi are safe to eat.

Final Words

Mushrooms play a vital role in ecosystems an serve as a food source for a wide range of animals. From mammals like deer and squirrels to insects like beetles and ants, many creatures can eat mushrooms. These animals, in turn, help fungi flourish by dispersing spores and role in nutrient recycling.

If you have pets at home, it is strictly recommended to get consultancy from veterinarian before presenting mushrooms to your pets.