They feed on decomposing organic material rather than living plants. This means they're generally acting as decomposers, helping break down dead plant matter and return nutrients to the soil.
Rainy weather, warm temperatures, and moisture can encourage their fruiting bodies to emerge. A mushroom may seem to appear overnight because much of the fungal organism is already present underground.
Are Red Stinkhorn Mushrooms Dangerous?
In most cases, stinkhorns are not considered dangerous simply because they're growing in your yard.
They generally do not attack healthy grass, flowers, shrubs, or trees. Their main role is to break down decaying organic material.
However, there are a few sensible precautions:
Don't eat wild mushrooms unless they've been identified with certainty by a qualified expert.
Keep curious children and pets from tasting unfamiliar fungi.
Wash your hands after handling mushrooms or removing them.
Avoid touching your face while working with unknown fungi.
The unpleasant odor may be enough to make you want to avoid them, but the smell itself is not usually a reason to panic.
What Should You Do If You Find One?
If the mushroom isn't bothering anyone, you can usually leave it alone. Stinkhorns are part of the natural decomposition process, and their presence doesn't automatically mean your yard has a problem.
If the odor is unpleasant or you don't want the mushroom near a walkway or play area, you can remove the visible growth.
Wear disposable gloves, place the mushroom in a sealed bag, and dispose of it with household waste. Avoid putting it in an open compost pile if you don't want to spread spores around your garden.
Removing the visible mushroom won't necessarily eliminate the fungus beneath the soil. More fruiting bodies may appear if the conditions remain favorable.
How Can You Discourage Stinkhorns From Returning?
There's no guaranteed way to prevent every stinkhorn from appearing, but reducing the organic material and moisture they favor may help.
Consider these steps:
1. Remove decaying organic material. Clear away rotting leaves, old plant debris, and pieces of decaying wood where practical.
2. Check your mulch. Stinkhorns often appear in wood-chip mulch. If they repeatedly emerge in one area, you can remove and replace some of the affected mulch.
3. Improve drainage. If a garden bed stays excessively wet, consider whether better drainage or less frequent watering is appropriate for the plants growing there.
4. Avoid unnecessary fungicides. Stinkhorns are usually temporary visitors, and chemical treatments are rarely necessary for this type of fungus.
Remember that the underground fungal network may remain even after the visible mushroom disappears.
How Long Do Stinkhorn Mushrooms Last?
The visible mushroom usually has a short life. Some stinkhorns develop and deteriorate within a day or two, although the exact timing depends on the species and environmental conditions.
After the mushroom breaks down, the odor may gradually fade. The fungus itself can remain in the soil or mulch and produce more mushrooms when conditions become favorable.
That's why you might see several appear after a period of rain, even if the previous ones have already disappeared.
Is Every Red, Smelly Backyard Growth a Stinkhorn?
Not necessarily. Several fungi can have unusual colors, shapes, and odors. A red growth in the garden could be a different species, and appearance alone may not be enough for an accurate identification.
Location, shape, texture, and the way the fungus develops can all help narrow it down.
If you're unsure what you've found, take a clear photograph from several angles and ask a local mushroom identification group, university extension service, or qualified mycologist for help. Never taste an unidentified mushroom to determine what it is.
A Strange but Useful Backyard Visitor
Finding a bright red, foul-smelling mushroom in your backyard can certainly be an unpleasant surprise. But if it's a stinkhorn, there's usually no reason to panic.
These unusual fungi help break down dead organic material, and their strong odor is simply how they attract insects to spread their spores.
You can leave one alone if it isn't causing trouble or carefully remove it if the smell is too much. Either way, that strange red growth is likely doing a small but important job in your garden's natural ecosystem.
