Well, that stinks.

Do you suspect two legged or four legged intruders? I'd be curious to hear what animals might raid a worm bin.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss, but I suspect you will begin again. I would.

Don't call the cops. They might find you strange and put your house on some watch list! Just kidding! Sorry to hear that. If you were in Nashville I would hook you up with some worms and castings.

I'm going to guess that this was the job of some masked marauders...ie RACCOONS!

They love worms and can easily open a bin.

Sorry this happened to you.

Here in Okla I would blame the stinking armadillos. They destroyed my garden and worms last year I had to move my worms into the greenhouse and fence my garden and run a electric wire. They even dug under the greenhouse wall. I had to electricfy my greenhouse. Sneaky buggers If I could get them in my sights I would feed them to the worms..

They dug a trench around my back yard while the dogs on the other side of the fence barked. Very brave %^*(%#@!!
I hate'em.

I have no idea what it was... in Florida we have rats, racoons and HUGE iguanas (easily 10 pounds!). I had a hole in my screen which has been repaired, and I dumped the bin and reorganized it. I found about 20 worms in the dumping process, so I am just going to leave it be for now. Maybe they will repopulate, maybe I'll buy another half pound. I had only been set up a month, so the bedding that is there isn't useful as compost yet.

Thanks,

--Lisa

Hhmmm It sounds like racoons or skunks but thats water under the bridge. You do have some left in there so go back to it and move on but from now on remember to secure your area before walking away from it. Not sure about the styrofoam peanuts worms dont eat them. The worms will repopulate and be fine just might take a while.

Where were the styrofoam peanuts from??

Racoons think worms are ice cream. For my COW's outdoors, I put bungee cords around them and that seems to be enough to deter them...So far.

Pablo,

The peanuts were from the bottom of the bin. I have peanuts sewed in kind of a "pillow" of screen material to keep the bottom from getting too mucky and keep air flowing in.

BTW, this is a old thread. The worms now live in a the guest room closet. :)

--Lisa

Well, sorry to hear this. it also happend to me. I lost 9 pounds of worms to 2 families of raccons in a weekend. I know better now and my bins are in locked sheds. And my dog is tied near my outside setup .Never again will i leave a bin outside if its not secure.

This may sound stupid but for people who live near lakes and rivers make sure that ducks and gulls dont find your bins cause my lord do they eat them up!!! they can empty out a bin in no time flat.

good luck and dont get discuraged .use this opurtunite to learn how to make them mate fast,(the worms you have left) and stedily and you will be obove your original count in no time at all