Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:
Wild Mushrooms of the Big Rivers


This presentation originally took place on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri
We were very lucky to be welcome Mike Snyder of WildWise Botanicals to Columbia for a presentation all about the wild mushrooms of the big rivers! Mike has been hunting and studying Missouri’s fungi for 15 years and is dedicated to sharing what he has learned with anyone willing to listen.
Presenting a slideshow of his original photography, Mike guides us through some fungal basics and how to find and identify some of the most common edible and medicinal mushrooms that occur in riverside habitats – as well as which toxic species to avoid. He also shares some delicious tips on how to use wild mushrooms in the kitchen.
This presentation is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the fascinating fungi that grow in the bottomlands of the Missouri River from a trusted and experienced source!
Photographs may only be used with explicit consent from Mike Snyder.
Meet Your Presenter

Mike Snyder
, WildWise Botanicals
Mike Snyder is a myco-educator, citizen scientist, and mycologist from south-central Missouri. He is a passionate teacher of all things mycological and stays busy introducing communities to ways to improve their lives with mushrooms. What started 15 years ago as a hobby soon became a passion, and for the past several years he’s been offering mushroom walks, classes and workshops, speaking to groups large and small, and advancing the scientific understanding of Missouri’s mushrooms. Mike is a dedicated Board member of the Missouri Mycological Society, heading up multiple committees, spearheading major research initiatives, and administering the state’s only approved wild mushroom certification courses for the club. Mike has grown into one of the Midwest’s most trusted experts in the field and is soon to be a published author with the upcoming Foraging Mushrooms of the Ozarks, a Falcon Guide.
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Resources & Links
For more information on this topic, check out these resources:
- Missouri Mycological Society
- Mushroom Expert
- Missouri Mycological Society Facebook Group
- Follow WildWise Botanicals on Facebook and Instagram
- Or learn more about WildWise Botanical’s offerings by visiting their website.
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