Saving stranded earthworms (this is a problem for me, really...)

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crenfro

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Hello.

Don’t laugh, at least not too hard, just yet.

I hate to see earthworms struggling on the road after a rain and sometimes I stop and try to save as many as I can. Just rescued a bunch of them this morning but I kept looking around to see if someone had called the police and/or the paddy wagon with a nicely padded interior for me. I feel like a nut when I do this (this = saving worms) but I feel so sorry for the worms.

Also, I read somewhere about one of the early saints - he was a hermit or something - who scolded one of his fellow hermits for not saving the earthworms that popped up in his packed earth floor hut.

So, any thoughts or guiding moral principles?

Thanks for listening. I know this sounds trivial but it bothers me.
 
Go ahead and save them; I don’t see a moral imperative to do so or not do so.

Earthworms serve as food for birds, ants and other insects. If you don’t save them, they’ll get eaten and not “wasted”.

In all seriousness, if this is an obsession for you, you may want to talk to a good Catholic councellor and see if it’s problematic.
 
I can identify. Not with worms (although that’s a good idea), but if i ever see a turtle crossing the road, I’ll pull over and rescue him if there isn’t heavy/moderate traffic).

St. Francis cared for animals. You are in good company :)👍
 
I for one appreciate a stranded earthworm thread, especially after spending too much time in the “politics” forum. 🙂
 
Earthworms have simple brains and probably won’t even realize they’re desicating in the sun. I wouldn’t waste my time picking them up, there are probably hundreds of thousands more in the soil surrounding them.

This isn’t to say worms aren’t important, they plow through the soil and keep the ecosystem in balance. …I think you would just be wasting your time trying to save a handfull when there are countless more in the land.
 
HyeDetroit said:
Earthworms have simple brains and probably won’t even realize they’re desicating in the sun. I wouldn’t waste my time picking them up, there are probably hundreds of thousands more in the soil surrounding them.

This isn’t to say worms aren’t important, they plow through the soil and keep the ecosystem in balance. …I think you would just be wasting your time trying to save a handfull when there are countless more in the land.
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Didn’t you ever hear the story of the guy on the beach with the starfish? 🙂
 
😃 And I thought I was the only one who did this!! I used to spend hours doing this as a child.
 
Haven’t saved any earthworms, but definitely have moved our share of turtles off the road in our family! If it makes you feel better and you are not holding up traffic or putting yourself in danger, I say go for it!
 
Don’t feel bad.
I play tennis and there are always a slew of them on the court after a rain.
I will pick them up and all the ladies I play with think I’m nuts.

Indeed, why would we allow them to struggle when it is so easy to help.
 
I used to do this ALL the time, and I still do, and my two year old girls help me.
I just can’t let them struggle out like that!
All the other animals have to work for their food, I figure the birds should too!
 
I save the worms and spiders too. Anything that eats flies is ok by me! 😃
 
Yeah, I do this, and people always make fun.

I suppose it makes a difference to at least that worm you save, and compassion is never wrong. I can’t see any negative consequences from this, so I say go for it.
 
This is a wonderful thread. I have helped my share of earthworms and turtles.They are God’s creatures too!

Jean
 
I feel bad for them too! I thought I was the only one lol. I try to save them when I can.
 
I have salvaged more earthworms than I care to count to keep my daughter happy. But earthworms became very minor in the whole picture the day we were driving down the highway and saw a recently killed skunk on the side of the road. My daughter begged me to pull over so we could give it a decent burial. I flatly refused until after a brief silence she said “I’ll bet Jesus cried when His skunk got killed.” Guess who did a U-turn to bury Peppy!
 
I’ve saved earthworms and my dad has saved turtles crossing the road. St. Francis would love you for doing this!!
 
I understand how you feel, I save as many turtles, worms, etc. as I safely can. My former pastor saved worms & I consider him one of the finest priests ever.
 
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