You can help researchers learn more about jumping worms by assisting in locating them throughout Minnesota. This can be done on your own property and takes a few minutes once you know what to look for.
Step 1: Visually inspect
Look at your yard, garden, woods for sign that earthworms are active. Do you see earthworms? Does your soil look like coffee grounds?
Step 2: Physically inspect
Since jumping worms live on the surface and just below the soil you can use the flip and strip method. Flip logs & rocks, mulch, compost, soil, root around, under and through litter and see what you find.
Step 3: Found some
Do the worms move like a snake or very “unworm like”? Check out the following video
Step 4: But are they jumping worms?
What are the physical characteristics that distinguish jumping from European earthworms?
Step 5: I have jumping worms! How do I submit my data?
- Take a few pictures of the suspected jumping worms
- Take a 5-10 sec video of worm moving
- You can enter your data using this form
Even if you surveyed and did not find jumping worms, please still fill out the data form. We still want to know where they have not been found as well.