Giant earthworm uncovered following days of heavy rain in Toowoomba

As a local vet Emma Swan is used to treating all sorts of wildlife, but she was shocked when her boyfriend found something in their backyard that’s rarely seen.

As a Toowoomba veterinarian, Emma Swan has treated a wide range of animals from mammals and birds to reptiles and amphibians, but the recent heavy rain saw her come to the aid of a seldom seen creature that appeared in her backyard.

After days of heavy rain Ms Swan said she found a giant earthworm seeking shelter on the patio of her Blue Mountain Heights home on Wednesday.

Veterinarian Emma Swan performs a check-up on a giant earthworm driven to the surface after recent torrential rain in Toowoomba.

Toowoomba resident Angus Young with a massive earthworm found in his Blue Mountain Heights home following days of rain in Toowoomba.

Ms Swan said the heavy rain had forced the giant earthworm from its home, and it had given her quite a surprise when she found it.

“These giant worms live down in permanent burrows, but of course it must be full of water at present,” she said.

“My boyfriend Angus was relieved because when I called him to come quickly he thought I had found a snake, an easy mistake to make at first glance.

“I was happy to see that he was uninjured, with good body condition and that he moved easily, allowing me to give him a clean bill of health before his return to the wild.

“My hope is to raise awareness that these creatures exist and that they are completely harmless. There’s no need to be alarmed or cause any injury to these gentle giants if anyone else should happen upon them while, like most Toowoomba locals, they try to stay dry in this weather.”