I don't know about you, but I refuse to step on an earthworm.  This habit began in childhood and persisted to this day.

The thought of its body squishing beneath my foot gives me the heebie-jeebies. On rainy days, and we have many of those here, I often do a dance around squirming little bodies.

This morning as I stepped gingerly around a huge worm writhing on the sidewalk, I wondered why they do this.
A friend of mine picks them up to save their lives. I'm squeamish and don't want to touch either.

I googled why do earthworms cross the sidewalk. Researchers best guess is to cross to the other side. When not only the soil but all the surrounding area is wet, worms safely migrate further than their current patch.

Another reason is to escap...

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