Did you know that horseshoe crabs are not actually crabs, but ancient marine arthropods more closely related to spiders? There is much to learn about these fascinating creatures – and one fun and rewarding way to do that is to volunteer with Coastal Rivers’ long-standing monitoring program. This annual count has been taking place for 17 years, enabling us to document population changes over time.
The training will begin at the Denny Conservation and Education Center at Round Top Farm with an overview of the program and an introduction to the life and habits of horseshoe crabs. We will then travel to one of our nearby monitoring sites for hands-on practice with procedure and documentation. Bring your boots!
The horseshoe crab count takes place daily from early May to mid-June at the daytime high tide. The count is done by rotating teams, so this is not a daily commitment for volunteers. Children under 15 should be accompanied by an adult. Note that some of the observation sites are steep and/or rocky, with uncertain footing.
