| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 09:00:15 AM
Walking Annie this morning I came across a true mystery. Why was the sidewalk across the street from me littered with dead and dying earthworms? We haven't had rain in several days and the yards were mowed last week. What would make the earthworms come out of the ground only in front of two houses? I have never seen either homeowner spray their yards with chemicals.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jul 15 2016 : 2:39:13 PM
No Sarah, I never did find out what was causing it but before it stopped it spread to several blocks in all directions. I never saw a bird eating them.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| mrssarahhall |
Posted - Jul 15 2016 : 2:00:57 PM
I am curious to know if you ever found out anything and if this ever happened again?
Sarah
Farmgirl # 5223
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn
All good things are wild and free- Henry David Thoreau
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Jun 09 2016 : 12:04:29 PM
That is so crazy. I worry that it has something to do with chemicals if the birds were avoiding eating them. The birds know when something isn't right. Hopefully this was a one time occurrence.
Krista |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jun 09 2016 : 05:10:08 AM
Thanks Marie for taking your time to research it on-line. I guess it's anybody's guess why they come out of the ground.
Some forty year's ago my ex-H decided he wanted to raise worms. Remember when that was the latest get rich scheme and he didn't. One of the things I remember about that experience was earthworms leave their beds during a thunderstorm. It's called stampeding. We had to cover the beds with tarps to keep them in.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| churunga |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 10:50:11 PM
I looked at several articles. This one gives the best possible explanations but it is all still speculative.
http://www.wlwt.com/Sudden-Die-Off-Of-Worms-Explained/10444354
This article has some better answers but is still not definitive.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/earthworms-sidewalk.htm
I believe that no one knows the real answer.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 7:48:20 PM
I have seen a similar situation twice before and it was caused by some type of chemical - either pool chemicals, deicing salt, concrete cleaner, or fertilizer or insecticide that was sprayed or leached onto the sidewalk. Have the neighbors drained a pool, done any fertilizer applications or used any harsh cleaners recently? Or had treatments for ants or other insect pests applied to the sidewalk?
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| forgetmenot |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 5:27:37 PM
A really good question for your County Extension Office!
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 2:57:01 PM
No one on my street water our lawns. After being through years of drought we are all conservative with water usage even in times of rain.
Another strange thing about the worms was that no birds were eating them. When I walk Annie birds fly down to the side walk ahead and behind us so it wasn't fear of us that kept the birds away.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
| rachelbee |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 2:04:43 PM
That is odd. Do those people happen to water their lawn if it doesn't rain? Maybe it got a little to wet for them.
Rachel, #6992 |
| Red Tractor Girl |
Posted - Jun 08 2016 : 1:29:27 PM
Sara, that is a mystery! I am with you, why this? Maybe someone else has some ideas?
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
