MADISON, Wisconsin -- Lawn and garden experts say worms in your lawn or garden may not be the kind you want--they could be jumping worms.
"They don't have legs, so they're not really jumping--but they can really flop off the ground a lot, and they'll try and snake away from you. They also have the ability to drop parts of their tail to escape predation, which just adds to their creepy factor," says University of Wisconsin Arboretum Ecologist Brad Herrick.
He says jumping worms are about four to eight inches long, with glossy skin.
Herrick says soil that's been invaded by jumping worms will be easy to spot.
"They have the ability to change the soil structure from what you think a common soil is, to very granular--we think of it as a coffee ground look, or something like taco meat" Herrick says.
Jumping worms can quickly take over an area, so Herrick says it's important to control the spread--especially their eggs.
"If you were to move to someone else's yard to do gardening, or move to a community garden, or go for a walk in the forest, make sure that your shoes are clean--brush them off and get rid of all the soil. Make sure your tools are clean. Arrive clean, leave clean," Herrick says.
The jumping worms have been found across the Midwest--including Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.
Image from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum