Sam Nurse

What has 5 hearts, no eyes, and is nicknamed ‘nature’s ploughman’?

If you guessed a worm, you are correct!

More specifically, we are talking about earthworms! Here are some fun facts about earthworms that you may have not known:

1. There are currently 25 different species that have been identified in Canada
2. Worms are called nature’s ploughman because once they eat through the ground, they turn the material back up into better soil
3. Worms can eat their weight in food each day
4. In one acre of land, there are more than a million earthworms!

Earthworms play an important role in our soil and in scientific research since they are very sensitive to soil disturbances. By learning more about earthworms, scientists can then know more about the overall soil health of a location. This is the reason why using WormWatch is very important!

Along with monitoring worms, we have other NatureWatch programs you can become involved in, and PlantWatch is one of these! With PlantWatch you can learn more about Canada’s diversity and help scientists understand the effects climate change on our plant species.

Both PlantWatch and WormWatch are great opportunities to get outside in your own neighbourhood this spring! These are simple, easy to use programs that allow you to understand more about the Canadian environment!

For more information on our NatureWatch programs, check out our website!
Also, if you want to learn more about your own backyard, visit our YardMap page and become a citizen scientist!

More information on worm facts here.