Worms On the Sidewalk

The saying goes "April showers bring May flowers." So here we are smack dab in the middle of April and we have had some rain already, but more to come I am sure. Have you ever noticed after a rain that worms are stretched out across the sidewalk and slowly making their way to; who knows where? What are they thinking? Little girls with new Easter shoes try to avoid stepping on the "ucky" worms, even big girls will do all they can short of dancing to avoid the worms. But really what are they doing on the sidewalk?

I used to think that the worms were trying to avoid being drowned by the water, that is no doubt saturating their tunnels, but worms can live for days in watery, soaking wet surroundings. Earthworms breath through their skins and need water, so that can't be the reason. Some people believe that earthworms are actually migrating to a new piece of property. Worms use the less restrictive wet conditions to slime their way across the drive way or road; it  it gets to be a very long trip when they get mixed up and go "down" the road instead of "across" the road. I wonder if there is a Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by a worm or crawler?

So what happens in a drought if worms need moist soil conditions to live? They simply dig in a little deeper and find the moist soil they need to survive. Did you know that earthworms will form herds? Scientists believe that worms may indeed use touch to communicate and interact with each other; they may swarm together to make group decisions...decisions about what?

Please enjoy the spring and do pick up every worm you find and give him a helping hand. If you won't do it for a worm at least do it for a friend in need.

You know what is really sad about worms on the sidewalk? When the sun comes out and dries the sidewalk the worms turn into...a  bacon sort of looking thing. Think of that next time you are out having breakfast at IHOP.