Are they growing close to the base of a tree or shrub? Armillaria is very common and quite visible at this time of year.

Not really. The ones I'm seeing are near a fence, and the closest tree is about 15-20' away.

Here's another pic:

I'm mainly curious if they're OK for my dog to munch on, since it's in her backyard and she's inquisitive :-) Second, I'm curious if I can eat them! LOL

Since tree roots extend beyond the branch canopy Armillaria mushrooms coming from the roots of an infested tree can pop up some distance from the trunk. As with plant species (fungi are not plants) and birds there are always certain particular features used to recognize each. And tell them from superficially similar ones. So try searches like "north carolina mushroom identification" to see if you can get sites providing enough detail to be able to tell - definitely do not assume the ones on your place are not poisonous without being quite confident in an identification. Also if you check there may be a mushroom enthusiast group show going on in your area somewhere.

The closest tree is a fairly young maple. The fence has been there for more than 20 years, though, so if the roots extend that far then they would have to be under the fence.

Would mushrooms grow from the roots if they're that deep?

I've removed a lot of trees in the last year, but I don't think that any were closer to this area than this maple.

So try searches like "north carolina mushroom identification" to see if you can get sites providing enough detail to be able to tell

I did, and all I can find are books for sale :-/ I didn't see a mushroom-specific forum on here, either, so I knew it was a shot in the dark to ask :-)

if you are interested in eating harvested mushrooms.. find a local shroom EATING club ... not the drug shroomers ...

it has been said a million times.. its near impossible to securely ID shrooms on the WWW ... too many look alikes ... key characteristics under the cap.. etc .... just be careful..

you local extension office might know the local shroom hunters ....

ken

I'm not all that interested in eating it, honestly. My main concern was whether I should be worried about my 12 year old dog eating it and getting sick, since it's in her domain.

I can see how it would be difficult to ID them, though, with so many that are similar! I think I'll just pull them up and not worry about it.

My dogs never had any interest mushrooms. ymmv

tj

My little girl is 12 now, and she's gone downhill quite a bit in the last year :'-( She can't hear very well anymore, and she's taken to grazing around the yard constantly! A few days ago I caught her munching on a clod of dirt she'd dug up, which is WAY out of character for her.

I'm just overprotective, really. But that's better than being underprotective, I guess.

" My dogs never had any interest mushrooms. "

Same here. And assorted fungi pop up all over my garden at this time of year. Even the 8 mo. old puppy shows no interest.

Dogs are often a lot smarter than we humans give them credit for :-)