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How to Get Nightcrawlers Out of the Ground

Nightcrawlers, similar to earthworms, are earth-burrowers that appear aboveground during the night and are great for anglers who wish to use them as bait for fishing. During spring to fall seasons, nightcrawlers are abundant in areas where cone-shaped mounds form above the soil . Because of their nighttime appearance, they are easy to catch and collect with the right equipment and technique.

Things You'll Need

Bucket
Garden shovel
Red light flashlight

Instructions

- 1
  Make the areas around the grounds wet and moist where you suspect nightcrawlers are dwelling. Use a sprinkler, hose or buckets of water to make the dirt muddy and squishy for easy picking during the nighttime.
- 2
  Use a flashlight with a red filter to locate the nightcrawlers after dark. Regular flashlights will blind them and cause them to hide deep beneath the soil. Check underneath rocks, leaves and any other aboveground objects for nightcrawlers. Use a small garden shovel to unearth the soil to check for nightcrawlers.
- 3
  If they are buried in the muddy soil, pick them out slowly and gently with your index finger and thumb. If you have trouble unearthing them, pour more water on the area to moisten the soil.
- 4
  Place the nightcrawlers in a temporary holding bucket filled with soil.

Insects & Science