All along Florida’s coastal waters in March and April we reach the peak of mating season for horseshoe crabs.
Our Florida state wildlife service is requesting reports of any mating horseshoe crabs so it can track these primitive but very important creatures.
Horseshoe crabs aren’t actually crabs. They’re more closely related to spiders and scorpions. Ancient survivors from the period before the dinosaurs, they have declined in the past few decades from the loss of coastal habitat to development.
What are you looking for? Mating pairs and clusters can be easily recognized. The male hooks onto the larger female, often joined by other males hoping to help in fertilizing her eggs. They’re most easily seen at high tide within a few days of a new or full moon.
You can report sightings to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs.
Horseshoe crab eggs are an important food for migrating birds. The adult crabs are food for fish, sea turtles, alligators and other creatures.
Just in case, you see one on its back, you can help it. Never pick them up by the tail. Just grip it gently on its sides and flip it over.