Biology:Worm charming

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Short description: Methods of attracting earthworms

File:Florida worm charming example.webm Worm charming, worm grunting, worm fiddling, or rooping is a method of attracting earthworms from the ground. The activity is usually performed to collect bait for fishing but can also take the form of a competitive sport in areas such as the UK and East Texas. As a skill and profession worm charming is now very rare, with the art being passed through generations to ensure that it survives.[1][2]

Methods

Most worm charming methods involve vibrating the soil, which encourages the worms to the surface. In 2008, researchers from Vanderbilt University claimed that the worms surface because the vibrations are similar to those produced by digging moles, which prey on earthworms.[3][4]

The activity is known by several different names and the apparatus and techniques vary significantly.[1][2] "Worm grunting" generally refers to the use of a "stob", a wooden stake that is driven into the ground, and a "rooping iron" which is used to rub the stob.[5] "Worm fiddling" also uses a wooden stake but utilises a dulled saw which is dragged along its top.[1]

Techniques vary from sprinkling the turf with water, tea and beer, to music or just "twanging" with a garden fork.[6] In some organized competitions, detergents and mechanical diggers have been banned.[6]

Non-human animal behavior

Worm charming is a behavior also observed in non-human animals, especially among birds such as the Northern lapwing, red-billed gulls, kagu, American woodcock, and olive thrush.[1] The methods used vary; however, tapping earth with feet to generate vibrations is widespread. One common example is the "seagull dance".[7] The wood turtle also seems to be adapted for worm charming, as it is known to stamp its feet.[8]

Soil conditions

Worms are most commonly found in damp or wet conditions and tend to move away from dry soil. The success of worm charming can often depend on these soil conditions, with charmers choosing damp locations or using water to attract the worms.[1][2][5]

As a profession

Worms are sold as a live bait for fishermen, and many sellers use worm charming techniques to gather their stock. In some locations professional worm grunters need to obtain a permit to ply their trade.[5]

Competitive worm charming

In most competitions, the fiddlers with the collector (or collectors) of the most worms in a set time are declared as the winners. They usually have a zone in which to perform their charming, measuring three yards square.

World Worm Charming Championship

Competitive worm charming at Willaston in 2006

One of the first worm charming events took place at an English school fête at Willaston County Primary School in Willaston, Cheshire. The World Worm Charming Championships started in 1980 and is now an annual event, held in June.[9] It was organised by then-deputy headmaster John Bailey, who wrote the original rules for the competition. The event claims to have originated when in 1980 a local Willaston farmer's son Tom Shufflebotham charmed 511 worms in half an hour.[10]

The current world record was established on 29 June 2009, by 10-year-old Sophie Smith of Willaston, England, who raised 567 worms during Britain's World Worm Charming Championship.[11]

There are 18 rules of this event as determined by the International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes (IFCWAP). These stipulate that each competitor operates within a 3 × 3 metre plot, may only use vibrations or music to attract worms, is not allowed to dig or use "drugs" to attract worms (including water or other liquids), may stick a garden fork into the ground and vibrate it to encourage worms and all worms must be returned to the ground once the birds have gone to roost on the evening of the event.[12] This is to prevent a "feast" for the birds after the event.[13]

The competition returned in 2022, after missing 2020 (although a virtual event was held this year) and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

Winners

Year Series Champion No. of worms Charmer of heaviest worm Heaviest worm (g) Notes
2005 26th Mike Gaukroger, Clare Gaukroger (1)[15] 214 James and Andrew Thorley 4.5
2006 27th Geoff Sandburg, Davina Sandburg[16] 127 Jordan and Darren Long 4.3
2007 28th Mike Gaukroger, Clare Gaukroger (2)[17] 399
2008 29th Mike Gaukroger, Clare Gaukroger (3)[18] 125 Ray O'Grady and Steve Plant 4.6
2009 30th Sophie Smith[19] 567 World record for number of worms charmed.[20]
2010 31st Jamie Long, Darren Long[21] 43 James Butler 5.1
2011 32nd Dave Ashman, Sam Ashman[22] 265 Amy and Nick Sproston 12.08 The event's heaviest worm ever, weighing 12.08 grams (0.43 ounces).[22]
2012 33rd The Caravan Club (1)[23] 419 Carol Owen 5.62
2013 34th Ellie-Jay Morris, Steve Palmer[24] 303 Harry Price 6.5
2014 35th The Bowden family[25] 394 Liam and Patrick Martin 5.84
2015 36th The Caravan Club (2)[26] 227 Alana Healy 4.23
2016 37th Hope Smith[27] 272 Luke and Ashton Caldwell 4.79
2017 38th The Love-Rouse family[28] 137 Baldwin/Viggars 5.54
2018 39th James Martin, Sam Bromley[29] 11 Five groups tied 3.0
2019 40th Sam Dobson, Ollie Dobson[30] 64 Daniel Summers and Tyler, Jake, Charlie, William, and Elliot 8.0
2020 41st The Brookshaw family[31] 155 Held virtually due to COVID-19. Plot size was 2 × 2 metres.
2021 Cancelled (COVID-19)[32]
2022 42rd The Price family[33] 83 The Macpherson family 8.0
2023 43rd The Jones and Weaver families[34] 48
2024 44th Alex Godfrey[35] 195
2025 45th The Thomasson family[36] 71

Devon Worm Charming Festival

Also known as the International Festival of Worm Charming, this event takes place in the small village of Blackawton, South Devon, during the early May Bank Holiday. It has been running since 1984 and is accompanied by a Real Ale Beer Festival and other activities. The genesis of the event occurred in 1983, when Dave Kelland after returning home from drinking at The Normandy Arms relieved himself in a field and was surprised to see worms come to the surface giving him inspiration for the competition.[37] The event has been held at The Normandy Arms ever since. Unlike the World Worm Charming Championships at Cheshire, "forking" the ground is not allowed, but the use of water is.[38]

Cornwall Worm Charming Championship

A new world charming championship was established in 2021 by local artist Georgia Gendall with the inaugural competition held in Penryn.[39] It then moved to Falmouth as it grew in popularity. It is now known as the Falmouth Worm Charming Championship. The event in 2022 demonstrated the effects of climatic conditions on Worm Charming with a heat wave leading to only a single worm being charmed.[40] In 2024, the winning team was the Tennessee Worm Tuggers, who charmed 32 worms.[41]

Canadian Worm Charming Championship and Festival

The Great Canadian Worm Charming Championship and Festival Canadian Competition was held at the Shelburne Fiddle Park in Shelburne, Ontario, on June 9, 2012.

American Worm Gruntin' Festival

The town of Sopchoppy, Florida, has held an annual "Worm Gruntin' Festival" since 2000. The event includes a ball and the crowning of a "Worm Gruntin' King and Queen".[42] Sopchoppy is one of the settings in the 2017 novel Clownfish Blues by Tim Dorsey, in which worm grunting is a plot element.[43]

See also

  • Snake charming

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sutton, Keith (2007-03-20). "Fiddling for worms" (in en). https://www.espn.com/outdoors/fishing/columns/story?columnist=sutton_keith&page=g_col_Sutton_fiddling_for_worms. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Phillips, John E. (May 1, 1980). "Worm Fiddling – Mother Earth News" (in en-US). https://www.motherearthnews.com/sustainable-living/nature-and-environment/worm-fiddling-zmaz80mjzraw/. 
  3. ↑ Catania, Kenneth C. (2008-10-14). "Worm Grunting, Fiddling, and Charming—Humans Unknowingly Mimic a Predator to Harvest Bait" (in en). PLOS ONE 3 (10). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003472. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 18852902. Bibcode: 2008PLoSO...3.3472C. 
  4. ↑ Fountain, Henry (October 17, 2008). "Uncovering the Mystery of the Worm Charmer". https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/science/21wormgrunting.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tobin, Thomas C. (April 14, 2002). "Gruntin' and gathering". http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/14/State/Gruntin__and_gatherin.shtml. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Berrington, Lucy (April 28, 1996). "The war of the worms". Sunday Mirror. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19960428/ai_n14451942. 
  7. ↑ Tinbergen, Niko (1953). The Herring Gull's World: A Study of the Social Behaviour of Birds. Frederick A. Praeger, Inc.. 
  8. ↑ Kaufmann, John H. (23 December 1986). "Stomping for Earthworms by Wood Turtles, Clemmys insculpta: A Newly Discovered Foraging Technique". Copeia 1986 (4): 1001–1004. doi:10.2307/1445299. 
  9. ↑ "The World Worm Charming Championship". International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes. http://www.wormcharming.com:80/index.html. 
  10. ↑ "Worm Charming". https://www.willastonprimaryacademy.co.uk/worm-charming/. 
  11. ↑ "Worm charmer, 10, sets new record". UPI. http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/06/29/Worm-charmer-10-sets-new-record/UPI-68561246307679/. 
  12. ↑ "Worm Charming Festival - Willaston". https://thecaptainsguides.com/worm-charming-willaston/. 
  13. ↑ Hansen, Liane. "The Tricks And Tools Of Worm Charmers". https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106021539. 
  14. ↑ White, Jonathan. "World Worm Charming Championship Wiggles Back After Pandemic". https://thisisthecat.com/world-worm-charming-championship-wiggles-back-after-pandemic/. 
  15. ↑ "It's odds-on the World Worm Charming is a real winner". 1 June 2006. https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/5344814.its-odds-on-the-world-worm-charming-is-a-real-winner/. 
  16. ↑ "Tom Shufflebotham Charmed 511 Earthworms". 24 July 2006. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00348.htm. 
  17. ↑ "Worm charming – read the full article and listen to the action". 27 July 2007. https://www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/worm-charming-read-the-full-article-and-listen-to-the-action. 
  18. ↑ "Strange tactics at World Worm Charming Championships". 30 June 2008. https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/local-news/strange-tactics-world-worm-charming-5627815. 
  19. ↑ "Worm charmer, 10, sets new record". 29 June 2009. https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/06/29/Worm-charmer-10-sets-new-record/68561246307679/. 
  20. ↑ "Longest-running worm-charming compeitition". https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/759131-longest-running-worm-charming-compeitition#:~:text=On%205%20July%201980%2C%20a,UK)%20at%20the%202009%20Championships.. 
  21. ↑ "Worms are scarce at World Worm Charming Championships in Willaston". 30 June 2010. https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/local-news/worms-scarce-world-worm-charming-5615233. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "New World Record set at 32nd Willaston Worm Charming". 29 June 2011. https://www.crewechronicle.co.uk/news/local-news/new-world-record-set-32nd-5608231. 
  23. ↑ "PIC SPECIAL – 33rd World Worm Charming Championships, Willaston". 24 June 2012. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2012/06/24/pic-special-33rd-world-worm-charming-championships-willaston/. 
  24. ↑ "Picture special: World Worm Charming Championships in Willaston". 23 June 2013. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2013/06/23/picture-special-world-worm-charming-championships-in-willaston/. 
  25. ↑ "Lancashire family crowned World Worm Charming champions in Willaston". 28 June 2014. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2014/06/28/lancashire-family-crowned-world-worm-charming-champions-in-willaston/. 
  26. ↑ "Hundreds battle it out in World Worm Charming Championships". 28 June 2015. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2015/06/28/hundreds-battle-it-out-in-world-worm-charming-championships/. 
  27. ↑ "Willaston girl wins 37th World Worm Charming Championships". 26 June 2016. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2016/06/26/37th-world-worm-charming-championships-willaston/. 
  28. ↑ "Willaston family scoop honours in the 38th World Worm Charming Championships". 25 June 2017. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2017/06/25/willaston-family-scoop-honours-in-the-38th-world-worm-charming-championships/. 
  29. ↑ "Competitors find it tough going at World Worm Charming Championships". 23 June 2018. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2018/06/23/competitors-find-it-tough-going-at-world-worm-charming-championships/. 
  30. ↑ "Hot work for hundreds at World Worm Charming Championships". 30 June 2019. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2019/06/30/hot-work-for-hundreds-at-world-worm-charming-championships/. 
  31. ↑ "Willaston World Worm Charming Championships prove "virtual" success on Zoom". 28 June 2020. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2020/06/28/willaston-world-worm-charming-championships-prove-virtual-success-on-zoom/. 
  32. ↑ "Organisers call off World Worm Charming Championships due to Covid". 30 May 2021. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2021/05/30/organisers-call-off-world-worm-charming-championships-due-to-covid/. 
  33. ↑ "World Worm Charming Championship wiggles back after pandemic". 24 June 2023. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2022/06/26/world-worm-charming-championship-wiggles-back-after-pandemic/. 
  34. ↑ "Dozens take part in Nantwich worm charming championships". 24 June 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-66009863. 
  35. ↑ "Worms pick up good vibrations at World Worm Charming championship". 24 June 2024. https://www.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/2024/6/24/worms-pick-up-good-vibrations-at-world-worm-charming-championship-1441. 
  36. ↑ "Worms pick up good vibrations at World Worm Charming championship". 22 June 2025. https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2025/06/22/worm-charming-fun-draws-crowds-to-championships-in-willaston/. 
  37. ↑ "Origin & history". http://www.wormcharming.co.uk/history.html. 
  38. ↑ "Wormcharming competition". http://www.wormcharming.co.uk/competition.html. 
  39. ↑ Martin, Greg (25 July 2021). "Cornwall's gloriously bonkers worm charming championships pictures". https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/cornwalls-gloriously-bonkers-worm-charming-5697813. 
  40. ↑ Martin, Greg (17 July 2022). "Falmouth Worm Charming Championships only manages to charm one single worm". https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/gallery/falmouth-worm-charming-championships-only-7343906. 
  41. ↑ Martin, Greg (20 May 2024). "Thousands flock to Falmouth Worm Charming Championship 2024". https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24332436.thousands-flock-falmouth-worm-charming-championship-2024/. 
  42. ↑ "13th Annual Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin' Festival April 13". Visit Florida. http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/articles/2013/insider--off-the-beaten-path/sopchoppyfestival.html. 
  43. ↑ O'Connell, Tim. "Book review: Serge is up to his old homicidal tricks in 'Clownfish Blues'" (in en-US). https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/books/2017/01/30/book-review-serge-his-old-homicidal-tricks-clownfish-blues/15740623007/. 

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