Rare White Woolly Worm Suggests Wild Winter Ahead for Kentucky

One day last week, Owensboro four-year-old Odie was walking near the entrance of Independence Bank's main headquarters on Frederica Street. The preschooler noticed a woolly worm near the front door. Afraid someone was going to "squish" it, he ran over and picked it up. Wouldn't you know it? That woolly worm was completely white.

There's an old wives tale that claims that woolly worms- at least the color of them- are key indicators about how good (or bad) the upcoming winter is going to be. Now, it's important to note that woolly bear caterpillars are typically some combination of black and brown.

According to legend and Almanac.com, "The wider the rusty brown sections (or the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. The more black there is, the more severe the winter."

So, what in the heck does an entirely white woolly worm mean? According to AllAboutWorms.com, all-white woolly worms are incredibly rare. However, if they're spotted, it's "a strong indicator of heavier than average snows for the season."

Uh oh, Odie!! What has your curiosity done to us? The fact that you found a white woolly worm seems to echo what the persimmons at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park seem to be suggesting as well. The seeds in those persimmons this year appear to be a combination of forks and spoons, indicating we could see some potentially heavy snows this winter.

READ MORE: Persimmon Prediction: What Kind of Winter Weather Will Kentucky Have in 2024?

Making this story even more alarming is what happened when Odie picked up the woolly worm. His grandmother says, "He always wants to name things." So, what did he name the white woolly worm he found in the heart of Owensboro? Yep! You guessed it. He named it Snowball.