Why do worms come out when it rains?
Scientists think worms come up in rain because wet ground lets them travel far.
Pip’s answer
- Scientists think worms come up in rain because wet ground lets them travel far.
- Worms need damp skin, and rain keeps the top of the ground nice and wet.
- So they wiggle out and scoot to new places without drying out. Wiggle wiggle!
- Ooh, worms have no noses! They breathe right through their skin!
Try it together
Can you wiggle like a wormy worm, buddy?
For grown-ups
Scientists are not completely sure why earthworms surface during rain. A leading idea is that wet ground lets them travel across the surface to new areas without drying out. Earthworms breathe through moist skin, so they must stay damp.
Ask your child: Can we count how many worms we see after the next rain?
More questions kids ask
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- 🍄Why do mushrooms pop up after rain?
- 🐌Why do snails carry their shells?
- 🐱Why do cats purr?
- 🐝Why do bees visit flowers?
- 🐦How do birds fly?
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