Beware Hammerhead worm

[LizThumm]

So I am in Ohio and my son in law just found this dangerous worm in his garden. It is dangerous to our animals from dog, cat to chickens and cows ect. Also dangerous to humans. Do not chop it or kill it in field or catch it with bare hands. Catch it with gloves and kill it with salt and vinegar. Please look up this worm. It’s important for any planter of gardens, flowers or pet owners.

 

[Eggcessive]

What part of Ohio are you in? Thanks for posting. It sounds like this article:
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/hammerhead-worm/

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Interesting. I used to find these while playing in puddles in the deep South growing up. They always looked so nefarious, but we never had trouble with them, if that's the same critter.

 

[dawg53]

I havnt seen them here nor where I lived in southeast Georgia. I'll keep an eye out for them though.

 

[samanthaoverton]

Ive never seen one of those before..looks like a mini snake with an odd head.

 

[LizThumm]

What part of Ohio are you in? Thanks for posting. It sounds like this article:
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/hammerhead-worm/

Lisbon, OH south of Youngstown. And it’s exactly that article

 

[LizThumm]

Interesting. I used to find these while playing in puddles in the deep South growing up. They always looked so nefarious, but we never had trouble with them, if that's the same critter.

They like the southern weather better but are now moving north

 

[Chickenchick625]

I havnt seen them here nor where I lived in southeast Georgia. I'll keep an eye out for them though.

I live in Cherokee County ga, and have an infestation of these..... they are very harmful to the ecosystem, as their main food seems to be earthworms, which we have to have..... they have the same toxins as pufferfish... and can reproduce if they are cut up... (they grow new heads from the severed pieces) ((worth reading up on, but definitely do NOT chop them up, or youve just made more of them)) I'm trying to see if they're harmful to my chickens... o spray a dilution of water and ammonia on them to kill them with as little damage to my plants as possible..seems to work quite well