At first, a low-tide mudflat seems almost lifeless. But look closer —there's lots going on. For instance, see those little piles of spaghetti-shaped sand? They mean Lugworms are living in the mud. Think of these as the earthworms of the mudflat.

Lugworms can be over 6 inches long, and to get food and hide from birds and fish, they live head-down in J-shaped burrows. Down there Lugworms avoid the drying sun at low tide and the waves of the returning water. To avoid suffocating, the Lugworm expands body segments one after another making a water current. Delicate, bushy gills along its body take oxygen from the water. The worm eats the sand and mud the current draws into its burrow. Why? Mixed with mud is the Lugworm's food: bacteria and bits of dead plants and animals. Its digestive system separates the food. Then the worm backs to the surface and ejects the inedible bits in the form of those little spaghetti piles.

A small area may have many lugworms, and they rework a lot of mud just as earthworms rework your garden soil. The burrowing and water pumping introduces oxygen that benefits other creatures. This muddy home is really full of life.

Next time you venture to the beach to dig for clams, look for those tell-tale piles. And be sure to refill your holes. Large piles of sand and mud can suffocate lugworms and other burrowing critters.