In general it makes sense to gather samples as infrequently as possible, and when you do, to take as little as possible from one area. Here are some suggestions, based largely on Charles Roth's excellent book, The Plant Observer's Guidebook. He suggests collecting specimens approximately the size of the palm of your hand, using a knife or hammer and chisel to free them from the substrate. Moistening the specimen will make it easier to extract. Place your samples in stiff folded paper, labeling them with the date and location, as well as the substrate on which you found it. Beware plastic bags, Roth cautions, as they trap moisture and the lichens can quickly discolor or get moldy. Back at home or school your samples on bark can be trimmed of excess wood and glued to 3 x 5 cards. Fruticose specimens should be dampened and then lightly pressed between blotting paper to reduce their bulk. Store in cardboard box together with their identifying card.

Roth adds: "WARNING: Cut only into the outer bark of any tree, and do not chip lichen off tombstones. Take care not to eliminate a species from a site; what you are looking at may be the work of a hundred or many hundreds of years. Most of the colony should be left undisturbed. Special care should be taken in moderately polluted areas, where the lichens are already under stress and most likely will not grow back. Private property should be respected." (p. 182)

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