Unlike other earthworms, Jumping worms are close to the surface and rarely further than 4 inches down. While jumping worm cocoons survive both cold winters and chemical treatment, if seen in a garden, take advantage of hot summers to solarize soil as they are sensitive to heat. Clear plastic under and over soil will hold in solar heat so that soil rises to a hot enough temperature to reliably destroy cocoons. While 55C will instantly kill jumping worm cocoons, 55C is also very harming to beneficial soil biota, the "immune system" of soil. Even a short time at 50C, which is quickly achievable on a sunny day, can destroy jumping worms and, most importantly, their cocoons. As the lethal limit is 104∘F (40∘C) for 72 hours, testing with a probe to ensure overnight heat does not drop below this temperature can allow for a more gradual treatment that preserves the health of the surrounding soil.
Generally, heat-treated soil is already very affordable.
Always avoid moving untreated soil, mulch, or compost from infested areas. Landscapers, gardeners, use clean soil only and inform clients you are protecting them in this way.
Even low-level heat-treating does pasteurize innumerable beneficial organisms in soil needed to grow healthy plants that then must be added, and so prevention is always preferable.
4. Advocate for Biosecurity Protocols
Municipalities, parks, and developers must also lead the way and cooperate with strict soil transfer protocols.
Ensure the installation of basic and inexpensive boot brush stations and scuff mats at trailheads and forest entry points, and examine options for their placement at other arrival points such as relevant Northern airports, train and bus passenger stations.
Support all regulations that restrict the transport of infested soil, mulch, or potted plants. Fortunately, Canada does restrict soil and mulch from travelling here from US. However, jumping worms are not yet prohibited here and so within our borders they are moved, while they are a prohibited species in various American states familiar with their impact to our immediate south.
Pressure washing all industry vehicles travelling into Northern areas. Industry is already familiar with pressure washing, they use it in mining (as an example) to remove soil before trucks leave a site. Instead, vehicle pressure washing would be done before entering an area. We have all seen that jumping worm cocoons travel easily in soil and caked-on mud. Pressure washing vehicles (and boot brushing for drivers) ensures that no soil from a contaminated area enters on tires, treads or trucks. It's basic to set up a drive-through station with a closed-loop system for water and debris without contaminating the station area and is not expensive infrastructure. Every entry point with enforced pressure washing takes one less variable out of the jumping worm equation and safe-guards forests for the future.
5. Bag, Report and Dispose of Worms
If you do find jumping worms, photograph and report them to iNaturalist or a similar tracking app.
Always bag and throw them in the garbage.
Never compost worms or infested soil—they will survive it and spread.
Never "gift" a potted plant to the forest.
Native plant shares already practice strict protocols before transferring plants—follow their lead.
Advocate for boot brush stations to protect your favourite trails!
To the Council of [Name of Municipality],
I am writing to you as a dedicated resident and outdoor enthusiast to propose an actionable, low-cost measure for protecting our local natural areas from invasive species, plant pathogens, and noxious weed seeds: the urgent installation of boot brush stations at all municipal trailheads.
Our local parks and trail networks are vital community assets, providing recreation, mental health benefits, and crucial habitats for local wildlife. However, footwear is one of the primary vectors for introducing and spreading invasive species—such as garlic mustard seeds, oak wilt spores, and invasive earthworm cocoons—into pristine ecosystems.
I request that the Council direct the Parks and Recreation department to install boot brush cleaning stations at the entry points of all heavily trafficked municipal trails and nature reserves, including [name of favourite trails you consider most vulnerable].
A standard boot brush station typically includes:
Sturdy Brushes: Weather-resistant, heavy-duty bristle brushes anchored securely to a wooden or metal frame.
Educational Signage: An informational plaque explaining why cleaning footwear matters, highlighting target invasive species, and encouraging a "Clean, Play, Go" outdoor ethic.
Optional Integration: A built-in scraper bar for heavy mud and a disposal slot or collection tray for seeds and debris.
Benefits to the Community
Proactive Environmental Defense: Prevention is vastly more cost-effective than eradication or habitat restoration.
Community Engagement: These stations actively involve residents and visitors in environmental stewardship every time they hit the trails.
Low Maintenance: Simple, non-mechanical stations require minimal upkeep while offering long-term protection for our native flora and fauna.
[Name of Municipality] must take this proactive step fast to safeguard our green spaces for future generations. Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued dedication to our community's environment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Street Address]
[Your City, Province, Postal Code]
Phone: [Your Phone Number]
Email: [Your Email Address]
Downloadable link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iwC7XcvR4lVogHHFxozjtWt1LMeqOCAd7RwOJaopfJc/edit?usp=sharing
Ideas for building boot brush stations: https://www.soilstewardshipresources.ca/diagrams
Why Stopping Them Is Possible
Jumping worms can expand in population and range but cannot move to a new location on their own—they are still just worms and so their spread is entirely human-driven. While brushing a muddy pet's paws is encouraged, most wild animals are meticulously clean, and so "epizoochory" is extremely irrelevant as a vector. Humans and human actions are the vector.
Their tough, leathery cocoons cannot survive heat treatment, meaning preventive actions are effective.
With prompt action, we can contain infestations before they become widespread.
Why the time to act is now. Jumping worms are poised to cause long-term damage to forests, gardens, and green spaces across Canada. Every clean boot, every bagged worm, every educated neighbour counts. The day may come when science has molecular tools like RNA interference that stop this species, but parthenogenesis make any scientific controls very challenging, and genetic tools work best when the population is small. If we can keep the population mitigated, there is real hope we can limit their spread. Together, by combining awareness, prohibition, and biosecurity, Canada can prevent this new invasive species from expanding further north and from damaging forests in our southern areas.
