☢️ Invasive Earthworms? 🙃

There are no native earthworm species in North America

It is believed that native North American worms were wiped out during the last ice age, resulting in an ecosystem that has since developed without them. However, in North America today there are more than 300 earthworm species which have mostly been introduced from South America and Europe via vehicles and the shipment of organic materials. 

Many of these worms pose threats to local ecosystems when their populations grow unchecked with no natural predators. Notably, the Asian Jumping Worm is currently severely impacting North American forests by consuming the leaf litter that would normally nurture a diverse range of native plants, fungi, and insects.

Conversely, common garden worms such as red wigglers and nightcrawlers, though also largely non-native, have not been linked to similar ecological damage across the continent. In order to be safe, the Canadian government recommends practices like disposing of worms in locations where there are already worms present to stop the spread and cleaning your tires when you go to farms, camping locations and other hotbeds for worms.