In addition, their tunneling activity creates pathways for air, water, and plant roots. In your garden, as worms decompose organic matter and digest soil they release nutrients making them more available to plants. Morristown NHP in NJ, Saratoga NHP in NY, and Weir Farm NHS in CT are particularly laden with earthworms with 90 to 100% of monitoring plots showing signs of earthworms.

NETN parks vary in degree of earthworm invasion, and there is a decidedly north-to-south gradient with the southernmost parks being most invaded. At this point, worms are not identified to species since monitoring takes place too early in the season to easily distinguish what kind of worms they are, but it is likely that most of what is being seen in plots so far are in the Lumbricidae family (of night crawler fame). Each site visit, all forest plots are visually inspected for signs of worm presence or activity (burrows and casts). NETN’s long-term forest health monitoring program helps to track earthworm invasions and impacts. Their locomotion is where “snake” comes in, as they slither from side-to-side to move rather than using the more typical inch worm-like method. They thrash about so wildly they can come clear off the ground. But try to grab hold of it and you’ll quickly understand the energetic nicknames this worm has earned. Just looking at one you might be hard pressed to tell the difference between it and any other species of earthworm. Introduced from East Asia around 80 years ago, it has since become well established in most southeastern states, and has recently wormed its way into Wisconsin, Illinois, Oregon, and many northeastern states. Indeed that is true of some worm species, but not the crazy snake-worm - an aggressive invasive earthworm with the potential to completely alter the character, functionality, and make-up of northern forests.

Worse yet - it is a creature that most of us were raised to believe as being a beneficial presence in our yards and gardens.

A new forest threat has oozed into our region, and it’s literally right under our feet. You would be forgiven for thinking that something called the Alabama Jumper, Jersey Wriggler, or Crazy Snake-Worm was either some kind of wild new cocktail or amusement park ride, but it is unfortunately something much more sinister than that. On the left is the well-known ‘night crawler’ worm, and the relative newcomer - ‘crazy snake worm’ is on the right. Two earthworm invaders of northern forests.

Download crazy snake worm