Invasive Earthworms Now Blanket Most of North America, Displacing Natives and Altering Ecosystems
• Nonnative earthworms have spread across 73% of North America, threatening native ecosystems • 28% of the continent no longer has its original earthworm species due to the invaders • Researchers documented 70 unique nonnative earthworm species, mostly from Europe and Asia • Earthworms sold as fishing bait and vermicompost materials are partly to blame for introductions • Preventing further spread is critical since removing earthworms once established is virtually impossible