Global "Worming"--Not a Typo!

Wild Chrome · 10-13-2007, 12:21 PM

Just thought I'd pass on something I heard from a researcher on the radio the other day. Apparently most earthworms we have in N America, including nightcrawlers, are foreign species and they're altering our forest soils. Some scientists are conserned that they are much more harmful than beneficial. The old addage that worms are good for the soil may be backwards. The researcher urged fishermen to be careful not to leave worms in the woods.

Who knew?

Channel rat · 10-13-2007, 06:21 PM

I'm sorry everyone. I spent most of my youth scattering worms all over NW Oregon.

I didn't know how much damage I was causing.

Chrome Bumper · 10-13-2007, 06:37 PM

I think they are everywhere by now. Our night crawlers are from Europe.

fishkisser · 10-13-2007, 07:21 PM

This started with those first pilgrims the ships would dump ballast(dirt and stones) when they would take on cargo and proliferate the worms ... They have been decimating forest loam ever since...

Fish_N_Russ · 10-13-2007, 10:16 PM

The large nightcrawler type worms are natives, the normal sized earthworms you use for bait are mostly introduced species. Overall, they do waaay more good than bad, those scientists dont know what they are talking about.

jet · 10-14-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild Chrome

Just thought I'd pass on something I heard from a researcher on the radio the other day. Apparently most earthworms we have in N America, including nightcrawlers, are foreign species and they're altering our forest soils. Some scientists are conserned that they are much more harmful than beneficial. The old addage that worms are good for the soil may be backwards. The researcher urged fishermen to be careful not to leave worms in the woods.

Who knew?

What would I use for Sturegeon bait, first the smelt are almost gone and now the worms are a deadly species>

Jet~~~