Help Horseshoe Crabs Data Collection Efforts

The Nature Conservancy and many other conservation groups across Connecticut have been out on the beach coastwide to assist the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Sacred Heart University’s Project Limulus Program in gathering information on horseshoe crabs, one of the world’s oldest and most unchanged creatures. This effort is critical to developing a better understanding of horseshoe crab abundance, movement within Long Island Sound, and habitat preference.  Nature Conservancy volunteers from Trumbull, Fairfield, Norwalk, Westport and Redding have assisted with efforts at Fairfield’s Penfield Beach. 

Around the new and full moons in May and June volunteers have conducted counts of pairs, single males and single females. Trained volunteers have also tagged over 400 animals using a federal identification tag. The horseshoe crab was once more abundant in Long Island Sound, but loss of habitat from shoreline construction, beach management practices, harvesting and other environmental factors may be affecting the number that now exist.

Anyone can help. If you’re walking along a beach this summer (wherever you are) take along a small note pad. If you come across a tagged crab record the tag number and call it in.

This information is just as important as helping to tag. This information tells scientists where the crab has traveled and how long it was since it left the original beach where it was tagged.  Trends will start to be observed by noting where and when crabs are most prevalent.

Visit ProjectLimulus.org for more information.