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1/ There’s a species of mushroom called the “Amanita phalloides” that is also known as—no joke—“death caps.” bit.ly/2G53mzs
2/ Death caps first appeared in North America in 1997, in British Columbia. Then they appeared in Victoria, and then in Vancouver. Now, they appear on the sidewalk in urban neighborhoods and have become a constant menace to those in the Bay Area.
3/ If ingested, death caps can cause severe illness within six to 36 hours. Critical liver damage is usually apparent after 72 hours, and fatality can occur after a week or longer. They account for more than 90 percent of mushroom-related poisonings and fatalities worldwide.
4/ Unfortunately, death caps are not commonly recognized. In 2012, an experienced Chinese-born chef and his assistant prepared a New Year’s Eve dinner that included locally gathered death caps.
5/ Both of them died within two days while awaiting liver transplants; one guest also became ill, but survived after a successful surgery. That same year, more than 30 death-cap poisonings were reported, including three deaths, while 2013 saw five total cases and no fatalities.
6/ In 2014, one person died of death-cap poisoning in Michigan; two in California; and one in Vancouver. A 3-year-old boy from Victoria died in 2013 after consuming mushrooms that had been found outside an apartment complex. 
7/ Symptoms can easily be confused with those of general food poisoning, but the stakes are much higher. And, unfortunately, there is no antidote.
8/8 Read the latest from @craigchilds_ to learn more about death caps, including their risks, migrations, and appearances. And don’t eat mushrooms you don’t recognize. bit.ly/2G53mzs
