The boys & I just returned from a big adventure, we camped at Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick to witness the annual horseshoe crab migration. Every year, right around the full moon in May and June, horseshoe crabs migrate to protected beaches within bays and coves to spawn. This was such an amazing and memorable experience for all of us, I can't believe that the horseshoe crabs have been doing this for over 350 million years and we only just discovered that they are spawning here in Maine.
Some of these crabs are so old, like the male in the above picture, that they've taken on passengers. We saw many crabs with barnacles, shells, snails and big mussels on their backs.
The horseshoe crabs lay their eggs in the sand, either on the beach above the high tide line or in shallow waters. The crabs were everywhere, we saw thousands of them.
Though they look a little scary, the crabs are harmless to people. In fact, they are quite helpful to humans - anyone in the U.S. who has ever received an injectible medication has benefited from horseshoe crab blood, which is used by pharmaceutical and medical device companies to ensure that their products are free of bacterial contamination.
Levi & I especially loved the juveniles. These little guys live in the intertidal flats for up to nine years before they reach sexual maturity and begin this migration to the beach themselves. During this time they will molt up to 17 times.
When you stand in the water with the horseshoe crabs, they bump you repeatedly and crawl over your feet, which can be a little startling the first few times in happens. One of them voluntarily wandered into the moat around Si & Levi's sandcastle, which greatly pleased the boys. After that, many more went into the moat, but not of their own free will.
If you'd like to see this spectacular event for yourself, the horseshoe crabs will head for the beaches again next month around the full moon on June 26th. Delaware Bay is the largest spawning ground in the world for horseshoes, but if you are in Maine, head to Thomas Point Beach, you won't be disappointed!
Floating around with the horseshoes were hundreds of beautiful (and harmless) moon jellyfish.
If you'd like to learn more about these interesting creatures, check out this episode of Nature on PBS.org. Silas put the horseshoes right up to his face and let them tickle him with their legs, just like the fisherman in this show.
By the way, if you do go to Brunswick, don't play with the toxic browntail moth caterpillars or you may end up with a very itchy rash, like Levi did when we first arrived at the campground (luckily it went away after some medicine, a shower & a change of clothes).
The view from our campsite.
Very interesting Michelle. I, too, love the juveniles. While working with our horseshoe crabs in the children's cove at the aquarium, I was amazed to learn that they were not crustaceans, but part of the arachnid or spider family. They are considered living fossils. Pretty amazing creatures.
Posted by: Nana | May 31, 2010 at 07:47 AM
Nenny,
The baby horseshoe crabs were so cute, they didnt hurt, but it might if you stepped on their tail when it was sticking out. The big ones would try to threaten you but swinging their tale back forth sticking it up, but it doesnt hurt you. You know already that I put them right up to my face. They move slow on the land but swim pretty fast in the water.
Our friend Coco came camped one night with us, that was fun.
The horseshoe crabs crawled into our moat all they did was dig when they got in there.
You can tell the males because they have an extra tiny leg to hold onto the female to mate.
Silas
Posted by: Michelle | May 31, 2010 at 08:39 AM
Silas,
You really did learn so much about horseshoe crabs on your adventure. I was able to pick up horseshoe crabs when I worked in the Children's cove at the aquarium. I liked to feel their fuzzy legs. I'd like to go back to the aquarium at Boothbay with you and Levi.
I'm so happy that Levi recovered from his rash. I liked the view from your campsite. Camping is fun.
Posted by: Nana | May 31, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Cody loved this post! He especially enjoyed the photo of Tiny with the tiny horseshoe crab and the one with both boys, their moat and their visitor! Really, he kept scrolling up and down looking at all the photos but those two were his favorites.
You guys are all learning so much...all the time!
Posted by: deb | May 31, 2010 at 06:57 PM
Please tell Cody that I loved those two photos also - those were two of my favorite things from the whole trip. Isnt Cody really into marine biology? I think I remember you mentioning that at one point - no wonder he loved this post!
Posted by: Michelle | May 31, 2010 at 09:13 PM
Oh I love these photos and you are so informative. I am sure we don't get these in Australia but we have seen them in dinosaur dvd's so yes - they have been around for that long!
Posted by: Gwynneth Beasley | June 01, 2010 at 06:24 AM
Thanks Gwynneth! Do you guys watch the Walking With Dinosaurs series? We love those.
Posted by: Michelle | June 01, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Wow! You guys do such amazing things. You are living science class...which is so much more fun than reading about it in books. Si and Levi I think I would have been scared to stand in the water with the Horseshoe crabs. Sounds like you are having a fabulous summer...and its only just starting! I love the last photo of you both together. Ruby sends you a big wet kiss!
Posted by: Aunt Suz | June 01, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Yes we love the Walking with Dinosaur Series! My kids have learnt everything they know about nature from those dvd's! These were how I explained that whilst its bad for one animal to be eaten, its good for the animal doing the eating, and they learnt all about mating from these! They like Chased by Dinosaurs also - its BBC too - mostly we watch these on youtube!!
Posted by: Gwynneth Beasley | June 02, 2010 at 04:43 AM
Thanks Suz!
This was much more fun than reading about it in a book, although it was a book for kids called Crab Moon that started our interest in seeing the horseshoe crab migration. Have you ever seen the migration in Delaware? I seem to remember that you go to the beach there often (or used to anyway).
We hope your summer is going great too. Come visit soon!
Posted by: Michelle | June 02, 2010 at 09:02 AM
Michelle, Your photos came out great & the experience sounds so interesting! I'm thankful
that Levi's rash went away without too much difficulty & that he didn't develop any respiratory symptoms from it. Sounds like you learned a lot & had fun!
Posted by: angela | June 04, 2010 at 06:48 PM
Thanks Angela! You guys have got to see this someday, it was so amazing!
Posted by: Michelle | June 04, 2010 at 07:21 PM