What is this thing coming up from the ground the size of a baseball?

Question

Found in my woods near a lake in Allegan, Mi. 49010

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Answer 1

It's a type of fungus. There are many different kinds of large, strange shaped fungi that come out after a rain. Often you see these sea-creature like fungi affixed to tree trunks. Here is an example:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/fungus-lichen/bearded-tooth-fungus.htm