View photos of the edible fern, Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken fern), profiled in the Wild Edible Series: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Arizona:

Late spring to early summer Bracken fern begins to sprout anew from its sub–surface rhizomes. When the stem shoots are 8”–1’ in height, snip them at ground level using clippers (or hands alone are fine).

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Colorado:

Widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, Bracken fern enjoys a significant distribution in Colorado.

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of New Mexico:

Livestock poisonings (and animal studies) leave no doubt that this fern is a harbinger of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and neurotoxic principles (mainly, ptaquiloside). There is even a correlation between higher esophageal cancer rates and Japanese whom regularly consume Bracken fern. With that said, it is my opinion that eating it (boiled with baking soda and salt – this being a Japanese custom, proven to reduce some of its toxicities) on occasion is relatively safe.

A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Utah:

Ingesting the fern regularly is probably not wise. I also advise against children and women while pregnant (or nursing) eating Bracken fern. Additionally, intestinal upset is not uncommon if excess is consumed at any one sitting.