Hammerhead flatworm spotted in Ontario after giant toxic worm invades Quebec, U.S. states [Video]

An invasive and harmful worm capable of growing to three feet long has been discovered in Ontario, Canada. The hammerhead land planarian is toxic and, experts warn, can pose a threat to pets, small children and small animals.

“They’re here. People are surprised to see them because they are very unusual. People are not used to seeing them. They are originally a semitropical organism,” John Reynolds, a laboratory biologist and worm expert, told CTV News Toronto.

According to iNaturalist, an online platform where people can report sightings of invasive species, the initial presence of hammerhead worms in the province dates to a couple of years ago, but the number of sightings in the province have increased over the past 12 months — with reports as recent as yesterday.

The flatworms are native to southeast Asia and thrive in moist soil, and have been …