What used to be an outdoor activity for only extreme foodies is now becoming more and more popular in many parts of the United States. I am talking about mushroom hunting! Mushroom hunters, also called foragers, spend hours, even days, in wooded areas searching for wild mushrooms. Dennis Aita lives in New York City. He has been a mushroom hunter since the 1980s. He first became interested in them while exploring the Appalachian Trail in the 1970s. As he hiked, he began noticing mushrooms and other wild edibles. So, he decided to try foraging for mushrooms. Aita says mushroom foraging changed his relationship with the environment. When hiking, he says, he would walk quickly and not see much of the plants and trees around him. However, to find mushrooms, you must walk slowly. “Um, by looking for mushrooms, you tend to slow up a little bit. You get a chance to see the birds. You get a chance to see the trees and shrubs, little animal life and everything.” So, it is necessary to pay close attention to the details on trees and on the ground.