WHEW! WHAT A LOAD OFF MY MIND!

It may not rank as one of the great scientific mysteries of all time, but the riddle of worm grunting has been solved, apparently.

Worm Grunting, Fiddling, and Charming—Humans Unknowingly Mimic a Predator to Harvest Bait (PLoS One)

Worm grunting, also known as worm fiddling or charming, involves driving a wooden stake into the ground and rubbing the top of it with a leaf spring or other flat piece of steel to make a grunting or snoring noise. Done in the right place under the right conditions, the result will be hundreds earthworms appearing on the surface of the ground. Worm grunting is practiced in parts of the southeast to obtain fish bait.

MORE, COMPLETE WITH VIDEO: NYTIMES