earthworms invade Alberta

[Catherine]

I had to really look at this article to decide if it is real. It seems that earthworms are not native to Alberta and now they are invading.
The article explains how they got there. It also explains why it is a problem.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/06/24/al...u-of-a-app

I admit this is an ecological problem that I have never even considered. No one even thinks about the impact of earthworms. Now I wonder how serious a problem it is.

[platy]

hahahaha as soon as I read this my immediate thought was about that terrible D-grade movie with the giant killer worms. Opened the link and there was a video of said movie lol.

Never imagined them as a pest species before. In my area we have 'giant earthworms'
http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoveryce...earthworm/
http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoveryce...earthworm/
David Attenborough even came to film them

[Cibach]

Hard to imagine the tiddlers we get here being a pest, but giant earthworms yes.
Just goes to show that in the right place things are ok, but displaced species can cause all sorts of issues.

[Catherine]

I don't think I am ready to have earth worms that big in my garden.
They are bigger than some of my snakes.

I haven't seen the D grade movie, but I thought of it too when I saw the article. It is funny that they show the trailer for Tremors with the article. I will eventually watch it since I love watching really bad sci fi movies. I like them because they are so bad.

It seems that invasive earthworms really are an issue. They are changing ecosystems. It is not clear yet how this will affect things.
I guess any invasive species has the potential to be a problem.

Invasive lady bugs are also a problem.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-22554162
I have seen swarms of them here in Toronto.

[platy]

Then you will love it Catherine because that movie is terrible!

[Tobi]

Wow! I have never seen earthworms that big! Ours are max. 4-5" long! Most of them are much smaller. (Though we have some big slugs.)
You always imagine Earthworms would be a good creature to have around.....but obviously not, in this case.
They are preyed upon here by Badgers and birds mostly, but even foxes will eat them.

Yes it's funny! I also thought that title was a sci-fi movie....a bit like the old 1950's ones...."Giant Earthworms Invade Alberta".....but I suppose it's not funny at all, when you think of the impact an imbalance like that can have on ecology generally.

[Catherine]

Quote:Then you will love it Catherine because that movie is terrible!

There is something about terrible movies that is entertaining.

Quote:Yes it's funny! I also thought that title was a sci-fi movie....a bit like the old 1950's ones...."Giant Earthworms Invade Alberta".....but I suppose it's not funny at all, when you think of the impact an imbalance like that can have on ecology generally.

I loved those old 1950's science fiction movies. Them about the giant ants was actually quite good. The Blob was entertaining. You must have seen all the Quatermas movies. I loved them, especially X the Unknown.
Actually the earthworms in Alberta are just normal sized ones, the kind used as fishing bait. They are a problem because they are a non native species to Alberta and they are affecting ecosystems. I think it is unclear what the impact will be, but they are monitoring the situation. I think it is a good sign that they are monitoring things now before they have some kind of disaster.

[Catherine]

I have got to remember to watch that movie. It sounds really bad and there something fun about a really bad movie like that.

Have you even seen "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?
I think it has won prizes for being the worst sci fi movie ever made. It even has very bad sequels.

Kevin Bacon does make up for a lot however.

[Catherine]

The book, Day of the Triffids, is one of my favourites. I have seen some movie versions of the story, but no one ever gets the Triffids quite right. The need to be scary and one movie made them look like giant dahlias.
There needs to be a really good remake of The Day of the Triffids with big name stars and a good special effects budget. It is such a good story.

You will love the Tomatoes movies. They are meant to be laughed at.