Exploring Oklahoma’s Mushroom Diversity with iNaturalist
Have you ever wondered what mushrooms are growing in your area? Or where to find them? Whether you’re a beginner forager, a curious nature enthusiast, or a seasoned mycologist, iNaturalist.org is one of the best tools for exploring and documenting Oklahoma’s mushroom diversity. But it doesn’t stop at mushrooms—you can also use it to learn about plants, animals, insects, and more!
Many Oklahomans ask me where they should go to find mushrooms or how to identify what’s growing near them. My answer? Create an account on iNaturalist and start exploring the map feature! This blog post will guide you through how to use iNaturalist to find and document mushrooms (or any other species), making it easier than ever to engage with the natural world around you.
What is iNaturalist?
iNaturalist is a free community-driven platform where users can record and share observations of nature. It combines citizen science with artificial intelligence (AI) and expert verification to help identify species. When you upload a photo of a mushroom, plant, or insect, iNaturalist’s AI suggests possible identifications, and other users—often experts in the field—help confirm or refine them.
Beyond identification, iNaturalist also serves as a real-time biodiversity database. You can use its interactive map to see what fungi, plants, and animals have been recorded in your area, helping you know where to look when heading out on your next adventure.
Why Oklahomans Should Use iNaturalist for Mushroom Foraging
Oklahoma has a rich diversity of mushrooms, but finding them requires knowing where and when to look. iNaturalist offers several key benefits for foragers and nature lovers:
Find Out What Mushrooms Grow Near You
By using the Explore feature on iNaturalist, you can search for mushroom observations in your region. You’ll see a map populated with mushrooms that others have recorded, helping you learn about the species growing in different habitats around Oklahoma.
👉 Check out the iNaturalist Explore feature here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations
Get Help Identifying Your Finds
Not sure what mushroom you’ve found? Upload a photo to iNaturalist, and the AI will suggest an ID. Even better, the community—including experienced mycologists—can confirm or correct the identification, giving you a more reliable answer.
Contribute to Citizen Science
Every observation you make adds to a growing database used by researchers and conservationists to track biodiversity. By documenting Oklahoma’s mushrooms, you help scientists understand distribution patterns, seasonal trends, and potential new species.
👉 Learn more about iNaturalist’s impact on science: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/science
Discover New Foraging Locations
If you’re looking for new places to explore, the map can guide you to areas where mushrooms have been spotted before. This can help you plan foraging trips to places with higher mushroom diversity.
👉 Use the iNaturalist map tool: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/map
How to Make an Observation on iNaturalist
Now that you know why iNaturalist is such a valuable tool, let’s walk through the process of making an observation step by step.
Step 1: Create an Account
Go to iNaturalist.org and sign up for a free account.
You can also download the iNaturalist app on iOS or Android for easier uploads on the go.
Step 2: Find Something Cool in Nature
Whether it’s a mushroom, plant, insect, or animal, get ready to take some photos!
Step 3: Take High-Quality Photos
For mushrooms, take multiple photos:
Top view
Side view
Gills, pores, or underside
Habitat context (what it’s growing on)
Use natural lighting and try to capture clear details.
Step 4: Upload Your Observation
On the Mobile App:
Open the app and tap “+” to create a new observation.
Select “Take Photo” or “Choose Photo” from your gallery.
Add details:
What did you see? (Leave blank if unsure; AI will suggest an ID.)
Location (Auto-filled if GPS is enabled.)
Date & time (Auto-filled from metadata, but you can edit.)
Notes (Optional—add habitat details, spore print colors, etc.)
Tap “Submit” to upload.
On the Website:
Click “Upload” in the top menu.
Drag & drop photos or click to select from your computer.
Fill in:
Species name (or leave blank for AI help).
Location (can adjust manually).
Date & time (auto-filled if available).
Annotations (e.g., life stage, flowering, etc.).
Click “Submit” to post your observation.
Step 5: Engage with the Community
Other users may suggest an ID or ask for more details.
If two or more users agree on an ID, it becomes “Research Grade” and contributes to scientific data.
You can also help others by suggesting IDs for their observations!
Start Exploring Oklahoma’s Biodiversity Today!
iNaturalist is a powerful, free resource that can help Oklahomans learn more about mushrooms, plants, and wildlife in their own backyard. Whether you’re new to foraging or a seasoned naturalist, it’s an excellent tool for discovering, documenting, and sharing your findings.
✅ Use the Explore Map to find mushrooms near you.
✅ Upload observations to get expert identifications.
✅ Contribute to science and connect with the nature community.
So what are you waiting for? Create an account, head outside, and start documenting the incredible mushroom diversity of Oklahoma!
