[CatHerd]

It is a different species, the caterpillar of the giant zebra moth:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/MOTHS/Hypercompe_scribonia.htm

The regular banded woolly worm aka woolly bear grows up to be a giant Isabella moth:

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/MOTHS/Hypercompe_scribonia.htm

I saw one of the black ones last year and wondered the same, so I looked it up. Glad it did not foretell a never-ending winter!

[CatHerd]

Oops, second link was supposed to be

https://www.almanac.com/woolly-bear-caterpillars-and-weather-prediction

[Jamestown1630]

I showed that to him. The one he saw looked nothing like it.

[Ransomed]

Here’s a question, I wonder if they always cross a road in the same direction? I’ve never noticed.

FReegards