Woolly Bears/ Woolly Worms are a unique caterpillar that are accurate weather forecasters. Folklore claims that these hairy caterpillars can change colors based on future weather possibilities.
As a Fly Fisherman, I used a Brown Woolly Worm fly often. This brown chenille bodied fly was palmer wrapped with Grizzly hackles and a red yarn tail. Trout loved it. You could use lead wire wrapped onto the hook to drift it deep. I honestly do not remember seeing any real Woolly Worms while fishing, but the fly still works great and is an easy tie.
Woolly Bears have 13 segments in their bodies. This corresponds to 13 weeks of Winter. The blacker the hairy bands, the colder the Winter will be. Longer black bands mean colder and snowier. If the rusty band is wide, then count on a mild Winter. The position of the bands can also figure out which end of the Winter will be mild or harsh. If the head is dark, the beginning of Winter will be severe. If the worm’s tail is dark, them the end of Winter will be worse.
Native peoples used Nature’s signature codes to predict seasons. They needed to know when to migrate, hunt, plant, and navigate their environments. Without accurate calendars, people needed some clues to know what in the world was going on.
Some cultures saw the direction that the Woolly Worm was traveling. If it was headed North, then a mild Winter was in store. If they were travelling South, the Winter would be cold and harsh.
The truth is that Woolly Bears ar4e looking for shelter to survive any Winter. They will become an Isabella Tiger Moth during the Summer but must make it through the cold to become an adult. In the 1950’s, the New York American Museum of Natural History performed a study to see how correct the Woolly Worm weather forecasters were. Their conclusion was that the worms were right 80% of the time.
In Montana, Winters can be longer than 13 weeks. Maybe we need to line several hairy worms up together to make a better prediction. Like it or not, Winter will arrive, and the woolly Bears will be tucked warmly under a rock or log.
Woolly Bully!
Montana Grant
