Every year early in the month of June we head down to the Jersey Shore to help rescue horseshoe crabs. During that time of the year they come ashore to breed. The females lay their eggs in the sand along the water line. After breeding and laying eggs…they often get tired as the tide is pulling back out. This causes thousands of them to get stranded on the beach, a lot of time in an upside down position.
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Groups of volunteers up and down the Jersey coast get together to help rescue the horseshoe crabs by placing them upright and back into the shallow water. With that said, millions of people are afraid to touch them. They don’t bite and they don’t pinch you! You want to pick them up gently along the side of their shell.
Once you have the horseshoe crab walk it down to the water’s edge. Gently place the crab into the water. They will sometimes just sit there resting and at other times you’ll see them quickly swimming off. Once they’re back into the water, move onto the next crab that you see.
If you find a deceased one…please just leave it alone. You really shouldn’t be collecting or taking their shells or messing with them. Just let them alone and nature will take its course. If you find a deceased one that has a research tag located on the shell…take a photograph of the tag or write down the information. Please report that information to that particular research group, so that they can track the travel and lifespan of that particular horseshoe crab.
You don’t need any special equipment to participate. I like to wear water shoes and take a netted seashell bag along with me to collect seashells or any trash that I find along the way. You should apply sunscreen and wear a sun hat because the sun can be really intense while you’re out on the beach. Other than that, you don’t need anything special to help rescue and save the horseshoe crabs.
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