The Cooperative Forestry Research Unit (CFRU) connects Maine’s forestry community with the University of Maine. CFRU scientists conduct applied research that provides Maine’s forest landowners, forestry community, and policymakers with the information needed to ensure both sustainable forestry practices and science-based forest policy.
No. This is how jumping worms spread. It is illegal to propagate or possess them without a wildlife importation permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Unfortunately we can't stop natural selection. Environments change with time, some plants and trees won't adapt to these changes and they die out. Others will adapt, overcome, and then continue to multiply for generations. Nature just works that way. Only the strongest survive.
I just found this video after searching to see if too many worms are harmful to gardens. I have never seen this worm nor even seen the coffee ground-like residue it leaves behind, until this year. The ground was softened in an area where we cut down a tree, both around the stump and a huge circle a short distance from it. At first, I thought it was due to all the rain and the possibility of the stump and roots rotting quicker than normal. Just using my foot I moved the soil around and they were there. My hosta gardens are new to me and we have used a lot of seafood compost sold locally by the truckload. However not on this particular spot. Oakland Maine. :-(
Just found them in a bag of Coast of Maine compost!! I thought they heat sterilized this product but apparently not......I love their products but this is insane.
I believe I've introduced these worms via Coast of Maine compost, too. Did not have any issues in our garden until the season I used their compost. Really tragic.
