In the Hez-Froidmont state forest, in the heart of Oise, amateur mycologists have reported a visible scarcity of mushrooms for several summers. Trumpets of death, tube chanterelles, and hedgehog mushrooms, once abundant, are becoming increasingly difficult to find, even on the wettest days. This trend coincides with a prolonged period of drought that has reduced soil moisture and disrupted the mushroom fruiting cycle. According to weather models, the frequency of rainfall deficit episodes has increased in northeastern France, heightening forecast uncertainty for forest ecosystems.
Mushroom scarcity under drought: situation assessment in Oise
Field observations show that species whose mycelium extends deep into the soil – such as trumpets of death (Craterellus cornucopioides) or hedgehog mushrooms (Hydnum repandum) – are the most affected. Their ability to draw water from several tens of centimeters deep paradoxically makes them vulnerable when prolonged drought dries out the upper soil layers, limiting moisture transfer to deeper parts. Mushrooms with more superficial fruiting, such as certain boletes, resist somewhat better, but the overall decline in moisture slows the entire growth cycle.
Quantitative data remains limited: local mycological associations have not yet published annual counts, and "information not confirmed at this stage" regarding the exact extent of the decline. However, repeated reports of days when no harvest is possible, even after heavy rains, suggest a degradation of the groundwater reservoir. Citizen science platforms, such as iNaturalist, are seeing a decrease in the number of reports of these species in the region, fueling concerns among foresters and foragers.