The Nightcrawlers: A Story of Worms, Cows, and Cash in the Underground Bait Industry

by Joshua Steckley

How does a banal earthworm become a valuable commodity? Lumbricus terrestris, otherwise known as the Canadian nightcrawler, is the most popular live bait used by recreational anglers throughout the world. Each year, as many as seven hundred million worms are handpicked from Ontario farmland for the bait market, earning the region the undisputed title of worm capital of the world. The Nightcrawlers goes deep into the empirical underground to see how capital confronts a diverse cast of human and nonhuman stubborn worms, wealthy dairy farmers and their precious cow manure, immigrant pickers laboring at night, and worm wholesalers who undercut each other through tax fraud and money laundering. This eccentric tale of worms, cows, and cash reveals the inherent contradictions in capitalism's attempts to commodify the living world—including the soil organisms that are inches beneath our feet.

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2025

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in this area of Ontario and have never thought of asking the questions asked in this book. Purely fascinating. Lucky that I can ask the author more of my questions. Perfect for the intended audience. If you thought you knew anything about fishing with the lowly nightcrawler worm, expect the complexities of this underground industry to rock your thoughts! Read each chapters engaging stories and final summaries and skip the academia if you must. You may be inspired to keep live bait worm fishing alive and well. Help the next generation to be outside? Wanna try your hand at picking? Convince a dairy farmer to rent their land? Continue to fight against climate change? Read the book and open the can of worms!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, engaging read. I can’t stop saying “Did you know that Toronto’s the worm capital of the world?” to all of my friends and peers.

[Colin Bruce Anthes · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting, theoretically compelling, and Steckley is a fantastic writer.