Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Use a Battery to Get Nightcrawler Worms

...
Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

Nightcrawlers are nocturnal worms that thrive in moist soil. In the evenings, you can find nightcrawlers closer to the dew-ridden surface, but sometimes they need a little encouragement. Because mild electrical current also draws nightcrawlers to the surface, you can use a car battery to charge the top layer of soil, which encourages exploration by the deeper worms. However, nightcrawlers are repelled by bright lights, so you need to modify your headlamp to keep it from scaring off your prey.

Tape a piece of red cellophane over your headlamp to help conceal your presence. This also helps to preserve your night vision.

Locate a moist area of ground.

  • Nightcrawlers are nocturnal worms that thrive in moist soil.
  • However, nightcrawlers are repelled by bright lights, so you need to modify your headlamp to keep it from scaring off your prey.

Insert the metal rods into the soil, approximately 4 feet apart. Try to push them in by hand, as hammering them in will scare away the nightcrawlers.

Put on your rubber gloves.

Clamp one end of the red jumper cable onto the positive terminal of the battery. Clamp the other end onto one of the metal rods.

Clamp one end of the black jumper cable onto the negative terminal of the battery. Clamp the other end on the other metal rod.

  • Insert the metal rods into the soil, approximately 4 feet apart.
  • Clamp one end of the black jumper cable onto the negative terminal of the battery.

Wait approximately 30 minutes.

Remove the jumper cables from the battery terminals.

Dig up the soil between the two metal rods. Be careful you don't chop the nightcrawlers in half.

Pull the nightcrawlers out of the soil with a slow, gentle tug and place them in the bucket.

Warning

Use care with the battery. Never allow the two ends of the jumper cables to touch once they are connected to the battery.

Related Articles

Can I Add Earth Worms to My Compost Pile?
Can I Add Earth Worms to My Compost Pile?
How to Make Your Own Solar Birdbath Heater
How to Make Your Own Solar Birdbath Heater
How to Amend Soil With Wood Chips
How to Amend Soil With Wood Chips
How to Use a Volt Meter to Check the Neutral & Ground
How to Use a Volt Meter to Check the Neutral & Ground
How to Remove Moles & Gophers
How to Remove Moles & Gophers
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers on My House
How to Get Rid of Woodpeckers on My House
Types of Worms Found in Soil
Types of Worms Found in Soil
Temperatures for Vermicomposting
Temperatures for Vermicomposting
Types of Garden Worms
Types of Garden Worms
Will Vinegar Kill Garden Worms?
Will Vinegar Kill Garden Worms?
How to Get Rid of Squirrels Under a Deck
How to Get Rid of Squirrels Under a Deck
How to Repel Moles With Vibration Stakes
How to Repel Moles With Vibration Stakes
How to Kill Blow Flies
How to Kill Blow Flies
How to Harvest Red Potatoes
How to Harvest Red Potatoes
Garden Guides
×