A new invasive species is rapidly spreading across North America, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. The golden oyster mushroom, a bright yellow fungus that grows rapidly and in large clusters, has been aggressively reproducing across the Northeastern U.S., destroying fungal communities. While it isn’t yet common in the Pacific Northwest, researchers worry that the golden oyster mushroom could soon wreak havoc here. The Oregon Mycological Society sounded the alarm about the invasive mushroom last year, warning foragers and cultivators about the dangers it poses. “The spread poses a risk to microbial biodiversity,” Joe Cohen, a former president and current member of the organization, wrote in a March 2025 blog post. “It’s beyond time for us to steward fungal biodiversity and cultivate fungi intentionally.” …Golden oyster mushrooms typically feed on dead hardwood trees, particularly elm trees found throughout the eastern half of the country.