The hairy oyster mushroom (Panus neostrigosus or Lentinus strigosus) fruits on logs and stumps across North America and around the world. It easily catches the eye because the cap is strangely fuzzy and distinctly purplish-red when young, although the color later fades. Hairy oyster mushrooms break down dead hardwood and play a vital role in forest ecosystems. These are not edible mushrooms, but only because they don't taste good and are very tough. They are not toxic.
