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Mysterious 'worm rain' stumps scientists in Norway

'Worm rain' stumps scientists in Norway

Scientists in Norway have been left baffled after thousands of earthworms ‘rained down’ in parts of the country.

Biology teacher Karstein Erstad came across the slimy invertebrates while skiing outside the city of Bergen.


He initially thought they must have tunneled up from the ground but then realised the snow was too thick.

"When I found them on the snow they seemed to be dead, but when I put them in my hand I found that they were alive," Erstad told The Local.

He said the snow was nearly a metre deep in some parts.

“I think they would have problems crawling through the cold snow."

Erstad took one of the earthworms to an environmental expert at the Bioforsk research institute.

"This is a phenomenon we know from the literature, but it is the first time in my time as a scientist that I have got the message that it has happened on the snow, " Trond Haralsen told the Bergens Tidende.

Earthworms usually emerge on the ground in Norway this time of year and experts believe some must have been swept up by strong winds and 'rained down' again kilometres away.

News break – April 20