 American Littoral Society Education Coordinator Audrey Litto leads a Horseshoe Crab Walk on Sandy Hook. If you've ever visited one of Sandy Hook's bayside beaches during May or June, you've probably come across one of our favorite seasonal visitors, the slow moving and strange looking horseshoe crab. While not nearly as plentiful as they were only a few decades ago, these living fossils still appear in enough numbers to attract attention and occasionally concern from human visitors to our little corner of the Jersey Shore. Many people are familiar with horseshoe crabs, but some may not know just how remarkable they are and more than a few may never have seen one on a beach before. Which is why the American Littoral Society hosts horseshoe crab walks that coincide with the short period of time that the crabs emerge from New Jersey's bays and estuaries. These walks provide a great opportunity to not only see these ancient creatures as they crawl onto beaches, but also learn why they come ashore, how that is critical to the coastal ecosystem, and what makes them more than just a curious sight (such as their blue blood or multiple sets of eyes).  Horseshoe crabs hit the beach on Sandy Hook during spawning season. The walks are scheduled around the full or new moons and during high tide, giving participants the best opportunity to observe, hold, and learn all about horseshoe crabs. The timing of the walks may also allow us to catch a spectacular sunset while walking the Sandy Hook shoreline.
One of the things people are often surprised to learn is that horseshoe crabs, despite their name, are not actually crabs. They are more closely related to spiders and scorpions, boasting a fascinating evolutionary history dating back millions of years. Also, unlike many other animal species, female horseshoe crabs are usually larger than males. That's because females carry their eggs within their shell. During spawning season female crabs can lay about 4,000 eggs at a time! The eggs are tiny, light blue or green in color, and are buried in the sand to stay moist. Male crabs will frequently latch onto the shells of females so they can fertilize the eggs immediately after they are laid. The eggs will then be left in the sand to hatch or be eaten (they are a crucial food source for migratory shorebirds heading to northern nesting grounds). Our walks are very informative, giving participants a broad understanding of horseshoe crab anatomy, behavior, and their unique history. As horseshoe crabs come closer to the shore, our educators are able to safely pick them up and allow participants to interact with the crabs up-close. It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to actively engage with these fascinating and harmless animals in a way they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. The educational 1.5-hour walks go much faster than you would anticipate! Seeing horseshoe crabs crawl onto the beach in front of you promotes a deeper appreciation for the species and our coastal ecosystem. If you’re lucky, you might even find a molt of a young horseshoe crab on the beach, which is an amazing treasure! If you missed out on this year's horseshoe crab walks, fret not! The Littoral Society is dedicated to fostering environmental awareness and offers a variety of other educational and fun activities throughout the year. To stay updated on future walks and events on Sandy Hook, be sure to visit the Upcoming Events page on the Society's website or contact Education Coordinator Audrey Litto at [email protected]. By Stella Mueller, American Littoral Society Education Program Intern Comments are closed.
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