Do Worms Really Live in Glaciers?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Do worms really live in glaciers?

The Big Idea

Yes, worms really live in glaciers! They are called ice worms. These tiny black worms spend their whole lives in the ice. How cool is that? They are one of the few animals that can do that.

Meet Ice Worms

Step one: meet the ice worm. Glacier ice worms are thin black worms, about an inch long. They live in glaciers in Alaska and western Canada.

Algae Meals

Step two: what they eat. Ice worms feed on tiny algae growing in the glacier. They wiggle up to the surface in the evening, when the Sun is low, and tuck back down when the Sun is high.

Chilly Only

Step three: stay cool. Ice worms like it near freezing. They cannot survive warm temperatures, so even a warm hand would be too hot for them.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! An ice worm is thin and black. It lives inside the glacier ice, where it stays nice and chilly. It eats algae growing there. And it comes up to the surface in the evening.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Ice worms are among the few animals that live their whole lives in ice. Some ice worms also live on glaciers in Washington state. They cannot survive above about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Always visit glaciers with trained guides, never by yourself.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw an ice worm on a glacier in the evening, with long shadows. Add a label that explains why it stays cold. Share your drawing with a grown-up! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Ice worms really do live in glaciers. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!