“What type of worm is this?” asks this reader in her submission regarding the big, segmented worm-like creature pictured below. “I recently found three of them in my home. One was on the floor, while the other two were on my bed and on my blankets. It is really creeping me out. And the worst part is I can’t figure out what it actually is. Is it a worm or a baby snake?” In this instance, it would have been really helpful to have a video of the creature, as that would help us determine what this is. The picture alone is unfortunately not enough for us to give a definitive answer to our reader’s question.

That said, we do agree with our reader that it does look like a snake. In any case, we do not think it is a worm, despite its shape. We would say it is either a millipede or snake. Now, this is where the importance of the video would have come into play, as we would have been able to see how the creature moved. Millipedes move as if they are gliding across a surface, because they possess multiple legs on the underside of their body, which lets them seemingly slide around. Snakes slither, which, in a sense, is sliding across a surface as well. The difference is that when snakes slither, their bodies contort and move like a wave, while a millipede’s body only bends when it wants to turn: otherwise it walks in a straight line.

If our reader remembers how this critter moved, she can come to a conclusion on her own as to what this creature was. Of course, if it moved neither like a millipede nor snake, then it is something else entirely, in which case we have no idea what it could be that would show up in someone’s home. In any case, we advise caution. Avoid physical contact, in the case that this is a snake and can bite, but even if it is a millipede. While millipedes are not harmful to humans or pets, they can secrete a foul-smelling toxin which can cause an allergic reaction. Try to brush the creatures onto a dustpan and move them outside. If our reader did not find more than three, it is possible that they wandered inside. If they are millipedes, they might have been escaping the weather: they prefer damp and cool environments. Since two were found on her bed, perhaps they are getting in through a vent above her bed (if this is relevant to our reader?). In that case, she might want to install screens in her vents. If she finds more, she might want to consider contacting a professional, especially if she figures out that they are snakes: it might be too much to handle for one person.

To conclude, we are not entirely sure what these big, worm-like creatures are. To us, they look like snakes or millipedes. We hope our reader is being careful, and we wish her the very best!

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