I don't think I am able to help with the mod problem, best I can do is maybe direct you a direct link to an instance that has some mod devs as moderators, I cannot remember how I joined or found it but I though :

https://lemmy.world/c/dda_discussion@cdda.social

In regards to the second question seems vanilla type things, I am not 100% sure, but almost sounds like the game emulated 8 months of game time when you started. Which by the evolution rates sounds possible to run into that type of stuff with standard evolution timeframe - if it is emulated.

Fungaloid enemies surrounding you is unusual, cannot say it cannot happen but that seems like one of those weird spawns - I have run into areas that have 3 spores clusters that are relatively close before but to be surrounded could be that the fungaloids had spread out and it is seeding the ground around it and spreading that way.

My best advice is to maybe move to a less moldy neighbourhood outside the fungus "reality bubble" or collect lighters or fire starting tools and spent time burning the fungal patches if you dead set on living where you are.

I will say that the people at dda_discussion@cdda.social are more knowledgeable about the code and could probably provide a clearer and more definitive answer though