Comments on: Releasing Worms Into the Wild https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=releasing-worms-into-the-wild WAY Too Much Fun With Worms! Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:21:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: Laura https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-1048447 Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:21:43 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-1048447 Bentley,

I live in Napa Valley CA. That would be great if you could help!
Thanks

]]> By: Bentley https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-1048438 Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:50:11 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-1048438 Hey Laura – I could potentially help you find someone. Where (generally) are you located? Feel free to email me (or reply to the comment notification if you sign up for them) as well.
šŸ˜Ž

]]> By: Laura https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-1048433 Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:11:31 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-1048433 I have a busy red wriggler composting bin. I am looking for someone to provide a new safe home. I am preparing to move out of state and canā€™t take my bin:(.

]]> By: Ann Zipperer https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-32721 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:18:20 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-32721 I’d be interested in learning if anyone has had a problem with bears going after the worm beds (specifically a worm factory with the multi-tray system). I live in Virginia.

]]> By: simon https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31800 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:16:11 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31800 Kristin/Mark,

I live in MN. last winter I left some worms in my outdoors compost bin. under ~2 ft of leaves/grass. then we had a lot of snow. I was pleasantly suprised that they survived. but I doubt that they would truly thrive in the wild.

Simon

]]> By: Bentley https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31727 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:03:30 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31727 Whoops – meant “Kristin” (not “Karin”)

]]> By: Bentley https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31726 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:54:28 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31726 Hi guys – I heard back from Karin and she has created a backyard habitat for her worms, so no worm giveaways I’m afraid.
šŸ™‚
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MARK – Thanks for popping by to share your thoughts (we miss ya!). I’m all for “responsible vermiculture”, don’t get me wrong – I simply happen to believe that in the vast majority of cases (if not all), employing Red Worms (Eisenia sp.) in a backyard composting environment is NOT going to pose any risk as far as “invasive worms” go. Important to remember that it’s not all “worms” that are potentially invasive, but particular species of worms. Also, I think “deforestation” is a wee bit of a strong term. Based on what I read, it seems to be primarily understory vegetation that’s being affected. Not trying to downplay the importance of the issue (it’s definitely significant – and the impact is certainly being felt in these forests) – just very important that people don’t get the wrong idea and start assuming that “all worms are bad” and they are destroying the all the forests etc etc.

Your experiment sounds really cool – and does indeed seem to jibe with the academic consensus regarding Red Worms (Eiseinia sp) as an invasive species (or lack thereof). Most researchers seem to believe that Reds can’t make it through the winter in sensitive, “wild” locales.

All the worms in the Great Lakes region probably has to do with all the people in the Great Lakes region (much higher population density – and longer time settled in the area than in some of those northern “sensitive” areas). Lots of critters to feed on the worms, and I think they are probably an important part of the ecosystem by now.

Anyway – definitely a complex issue with lots to consider. Not trying to start up a debate here. Hehe
Love the “2 cents adjusted for inflation”!
šŸ˜†

]]> By: Mark from Kansas https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31712 Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:10:05 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31712 I am a firm believer in responsible Vermiculture so; chances are that if you spread some Vermicompost in your yard, you have released worms into the wild. There were cocoons in the VC; thatā€™s what they do, eat and breed.
I have read tons of the publications about worms being an in invasive species. There has been a lot of research that has been done in the great lakes region of Minnesota and the deforestation of that area due to worms (that is the accepted theory). The worms invaded these remote areas by loggers and ā€œirresponsibleā€ fishermen. Last fall, I tried to see what would happen if I left 500 worms in a controlled area of my yard over winter. Would red wigglers breed and would the cocoons hatch in the spring? No. In the summer? No. In late summer? No. I canā€™t find a single worm in my project spot. I also dug down about 12 inches and screened the dirt; no worms (I did find some grubs and a rusty nail).
The test area was 3 feet by 3 feet and 1 foot deep. I gave the worms no food last September, they were on their own.
My thinking is: if the worms wonā€™t survive a Kansas winter, they wonā€™t survive a winter in Minnesota. The question that I asked wasā€ is it possible that the over abundance of worms in the great lakes region a clue to something else missing from the ecosystem that left the worms unchecked? Or ā€œIs that which feeds on the worms goneā€œ?
Those questions will probably go unanswered but, what do I know, Iā€™m no scientist.
And thatā€™s my 3 cents (2 cents adjusted for inflation).

]]> By: Jennifer https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31680 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:31:08 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31680 I’m in NC and would love to have them!

]]> By: Neil from Maryland https://www.redwormcomposting.com/reader-questions/releasing-worms-into-the-wild/comment-page-1/#comment-31676 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:31:47 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=5256#comment-31676 If you live in the Wash DC area, I’d be happy to take them off your hands!

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