'digging in' is the opposite of what's needed - just scratch'em around daily so the roots are exposed on the surface, where they'll die and be worm food - you should have just spread them out on wet paper to sprout first so their energy was used up before they had soil to dig into

Bill

Yes, that's what I do, anything to damage them so they cannot continue to grow. What a mess!

Or cut off the sprouts' heads with scissors and that will do them in easily.

Yes, Kim, that's a good idea. I've done some of that too. Also, I put gloves on and removed a good-sized pile of sprouts and their roots. Things are much better now.

I often throw old birdseed into my compost heap. If it sprouts I just shovel it in...no problem. I guess I thought it would be the same with the bean seed in the worm box.