Earthworm

Volunteered at the library tonight.  Two of my regular Wednesday night patrons came in and started discussing seasonal changes.  "Too bad about all those earthworms that get killed migrating across  the roads." said one.  I looked up.  Migrating earthworms?  "Yeah." the other one replied, "This time of year they are all on the move."  How far could an earthworm go?  From the front yard to the back?  I figured earthworms do a kind of vertical migration in spring from deep in the ground where they overwintered to the top strata of soil but doubted they did much more than that.   The guys were now on to discussing ruffed grouse.  "Yeah, I saw a drunk grouse the other day." commented one.  "They get drunk eating those last year partridge berries." said the other.   I considered the  teaching moment for children if Big Bird got a DUI driving on Sesame Street.   The guy's conversation was continuing.  "You know grouse do that so they get so wasted that they wander away.  Keeps them from inbreeding."   Hmm...   Getting drunk to prevent inbreeding didn't work so well for Lot.  I doubt it works any better w/ grouse.