Scientists ask residents to report invasive hammerhead worms in Waterloo Region
Fifteen invasive hammerhead worms were found in Cambridge, prompting researchers to ask residents to photograph and report sightings.
Staff at the Rare Charitable Research Reserve found 15 invasive hammerhead worms near its Cambridge office, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo reports. Researchers searched the surrounding area but did not find the worms beyond the initial pocket.
Conservation scientist Michael McTavish told CBC the flatworms prey on soft-bodied invertebrates including earthworms, snails and slugs. Their local ecological impact is not yet known, which is why researchers are trying to establish where they have spread.
Residents who see a suspected hammerhead worm are being asked to avoid direct handling, take a photo and submit the sighting through the EDDMapS invasive-species tracking system. Researchers say the worms’ mucus can cause mild skin irritation.