Alabama Need To Know: Toxic Worms Are Invading

As a parent and grandparent, I believe this is stuff that we need to know.

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We love to play outside with the dogs and kids during the summer months.

However, living in Alabama and the Deep South brings some pretty dangerous things, mostly due to our warm climate.

WHY SO MANY WORMS THIS SUMMER?

Good question! The answer, more than likely, is tied to all of the rain we have had in recent weeks.

Soaking rain storms are making these invasive critters come to the surface.

They usually hide out underground and stay there for much of the warm weather seasons. This rain is really the cause of the population explosion.

We have warned y'all about this in the past, but it is actually worse than ever this summer.

Some people on social media refer to them as "weird little snakes" because of their strange appearance.

We've actually talked with a couple of folks here in Tuscaloosa County about these invasive little buggers and the harm they can cause.

One of our conversations was with an expert in this area, and the other was with a mom in Duncanville, Alabama, who told us a story involving these worms hurting one of her children.

Here's a closer look at these worms so you know what to look for around your house.

@carliebenton my yard is full of these creepy things !! #fyp #fypシ #viral #worms #tennessee #hammerhead #wild #wildlife #eastcoast ♬ original sound - carliebenton

Credit: Carlie Benton via TikTok

Anything described as "creepy", "invasive", and "poisonous" is worth taking note of, in my opinion.

Get familiar with the Hammerhead worm, which has now invaded Alabama.

Don't touch them!

Whatever you do, do not touch these worms.

It can mate without a mate.

What? Yeah, that's right. Due to its small mouth, it has a very dangerous neurotoxin that it can't pass to humans.

It was the topic of discussion on the radio recently, which you can hear below:

One report told the story of a local man who touched one of these Hammerhead worms and became sick shortly after.

OH, YEAH, YOU CAN'T KILL THEM!

Come on, man. Seriously, check this crazy critter fact out.

They can grow a new head or body, and if you chop them in half, it will only make more of them.

The only way to kill them is to freeze them for at least two days.

OK, this creature is like an alien or from some other place far, far away.