Why Are There No Worms in My Bag

You ordered live worms, opened your package, and found bedding—but you could not see any worms. Your first thought may be, “Were worms ever put in this bag?”

We understand why this can be confusing. When worms die during shipping, especially after exposure to excessive heat, they can break down very quickly. By the time the package arrives, there may be few—or no—recognizable worm bodies left in the bedding.

Why Dead Worms Can Seem to Disappear?

Earthworms are soft-bodied animals made mostly of water. In fact, water makes up more than 75% of an earthworm’s body weight. (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Worms do not have bones, shells, or other hard body parts that remain easy to identify after death. Once a worm dies, natural decomposition begins. Warm temperatures and moisture can speed up this process.

The worm’s soft tissue breaks down, moisture is released, and the remaining organic material mixes into the damp peat or bedding surrounding it.

This means you may not find a pile of whole, dead worms. Instead, you may notice:

• Bedding that is wetter, darker, or more compacted than expected
• An unpleasant or sour odor
• Slimy areas or unrecognizable residue
• A few small pieces of worms
• No movement after carefully checking the bedding
• No recognizable worms at all

The shipping bedding does not disappear with the worms, so the bag may still look full even though the live worms are no longer visible.

Why Can This Happen During Shipping?

We carefully pack our live worms with moist bedding to protect them during their journey. However, shipping conditions are outside the worms’ normal environment.

A package may be exposed to:

• Excessive heat
• Freezing temperatures
• Carrier delays
• Direct sunlight
• A hot delivery truck
• A hot mailbox or porch

Heat is especially dangerous. A closed package can become much hotter than the outdoor temperature, particularly when it is left in direct sunlight. If the worms die early in the journey, decomposition may already be well underway before the package reaches your home.

Please Check All the Bedding

Worms sometimes move into the center or bottom of the bedding during shipment. Do not assume they are missing after checking only the top of the bag.

In a shaded, well-lit area, gently empty the entire contents onto a light-colored tray or piece of cardboard. Carefully separate the bedding and look for movement.

Do not leave the worms or bedding in direct sunlight while checking the package.

If you find live worms, place them promptly into prepared, moist bedding and allow them time to recover from shipping stress.

What Should You Do If You Cannot Find Any Live Worms?

Please do not throw away the box, bag, shipping label, or bedding. We need the complete package contents to help document what happened.

Follow the Live Delivery Guarantee instructions included with your order and posted on our website. You must contact us within the required time after delivery and provide clear photographs of:

• The shipping box
• The shipping label
• The opened worm bag
• All bedding and contents spread out so they can be clearly seen

Photos are still required even when there are no recognizable worms to photograph. Pictures of the bedding, bag, box, and shipping label help us review the condition of the shipment.

Please Make Arrangements for Delivery

Shipping carriers may leave packages without ringing the doorbell. Please track your package closely and make arrangements so your live worms are not left sitting outside.

You may want to:

• Sign up for carrier delivery notifications
• Have someone available to receive the package
• Check your porch immediately after delivery
• Ask the carrier to hold the package at an approved pickup location

The longer live worms remain on a hot or freezing porch, the greater the risk of damage.

The Important Thing to Remember

Finding bedding but no visible worms does not necessarily mean worms were never placed in the bag.

Because worms contain so much water and do not have hard body parts, dead worms can decompose and blend into the moist shipping material. After enough time—particularly under hot conditions—there may be very little left that still looks like a worm.

We know receiving a damaged live shipment is disappointing. Acting quickly, saving all the packaging, taking clear photographs, and following our Live Delivery Guarantee instructions gives us the information we need to review your claim properly.

Keep growing!