Southeastern Minnesota's forests are on steep slopes that can be prone to soil erosion. This MITPPC project is hoping to better understand the impact of jumping worms on these forest slopes. Preliminary study shows that  jumping worm-infested soils are extremely light and loose, likely making them highly susceptible to soil erosion by human footsteps, rainfall, and water runoff. 

Check out the information below to learn how you can help!

We're currently looking for individuals to monitor a research site and help us collect data this summer into the fall.

Volunteers will assist Extension staff with a one-time installation of soil pins (~2-3 hours), then return to the same site 8-10 times to measure soil erosion. Each visit will take about an hour. We will provide training, materials, and support to ensure you feel confident in your role. Volunteers will use a caliper to measure erosion and record the data on a sheet we provide. 

This opportunity is a great way to earn 10-15 volunteer hours that will likely count towards the Master Naturalist program or other volunteer programs, while directly contributing to meaningful ecological research!

We currently have sites in the Twin Cities area and Rochester. If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out this short contact form: Jumping worms registration form.

Even if you're not able to adopt a site, you can still help by keeping an eye out for jumping-worm infested soils as you spend time outdoors.

Jumping worms are likely to be infesting moister north and east slopes. They're also more likely to be in areas that are near parking lots, picnic areas, or residential areas, as these are common introduction points. 

We're looking for jumping worm-infested sites in southeast Minnesota. The sites should be hardwood forested hillslopes with minimal understory (the picture included here is a good example). As part of the study, we’re also looking for comparative night-crawler infested hillslopes in the same park or adjacent areas. Start by looking for jumping worm-infested soils and we can look for nightcrawler-infested soils nearby.

Before jumping worms mature around mid-July, one way you can tell the presence of jumping worms is by soil texture. Jumping worm-infested soil has a very distinct texture.  The entire topsoil layer will feel loose, granular, and crumbly, resembling cat litter or coffee grounds. This loose texture makes it possible to feel noticeable underfoot, even as you’re walking on it.

Nightcrawler-infested soils are firmer and contain small mounds called middens. These middens are made of worm castings and plant residue (leaf petioles, mid-veins, and twigs). A way to confirm it’s a nightcrawler midden is by gently moving the midden and underneath will be a hole! This is the entrance to the nightcrawler burrow.

Jumping worms are about the size of nightcrawlers, but their clitellum (collar-like ring) is located 1/3 the length down the worm from the head, and it is smooth, cloudy-white and constricted, unlike the swelled saddle-like clitellum of European earthworms. Jumping worms may jump and wiggle noticeably when disturbed. They can move across the ground in an “S” pattern like a snake. To learn more about jumping worm identification visit this UMN Meet the Jumping Worm website.

It's free and easy to use the EDDMapS smartphone app to report invasive species including jumping worms. Only report jumping worms to EDDMapS if you have clear photos of an adult worm. 

Download the app on your Android or Apple smartphone, set-up your login information and then you're ready to go. Skip to minute 1:15 and watch this short video to learn more.

If you think you've found jumping worm-infested soils, but there are no mature jumping worms, please email pictures of the soil texture and general area to Hana Kim at kim00688@umn.edu. 

Worm identification can be tricky so good photos are critical. For each EDDMapS report provide at least 3 good imagines of the worm from several angles and make sure the clitellum is visible and the photo clear. Jumping worms cannot be identified until the worm is mature and clitellum fully developed. In Minnesota this is likely mid-July. Before then jumping worms cannot be identified. Watch this video on how to take good identification photos (the video is from iNaturalist, but be sure to report your jumping worms to EDDMapS).