Ecological Research & Development Group Inc. (ERDG)

07/09/2026

https://baytobaynews.com/crisfield/stories/living-fossils-and-symbols-of-resilience-dnr-scientists-monitor-horseshoe-crabs-after-population,330225

Under the vibrant lights of the Ocean City boardwalk Ferris wheel and Slingshot ride, prehistoric animals scuttled onto the shore of a quiet beach by the thousands. While the setting has …

06/19/2026

Today we celebrate one of Earth’s oldest surviving species.

For more than 450 million years, horseshoe crabs have witnessed changing oceans, shifting continents, and countless generations of life.

Join us in recognizing their remarkable legacy and the importance of conserving these living fossils for future generations.

Happy International Horseshoe Crab Day!

Learn more: www.horseshoecrab.org

05/18/2026

17th Annual Buddhist Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Blessing Dharma Assembly
May 17, 2026 | Pickering Beach, Delaware

Yesterday, ERDG and members of the Shan Ning Temple of Gaithersburg, Maryland, gathered on Pickering Beach to honor one of Earth’s most ancient living beings — the horseshoe crab.

Each spring, horseshoe crabs come ashore to spawn along the Delaware Bay. Many become stranded upside-down by waves, tides, and human activity, unable to right themselves. Without help, they often perish from stress, exhaustion, or exposure.

For seventeen years, this annual assembly has brought together compassionate action, ecological stewardship, and spiritual reflection. Led by Rinpoches from ERDG and Shan Ning Temple, the ceremony includes blessings of the people, the water, the beach, and the horseshoe crabs themselves.

Midway through the gathering, participants walk the shoreline rescuing stranded horseshoe crabs and returning them safely to the bay. The ceremony concludes with prayers dedicated to all suffering beings and a shared vegetarian meal open to all participants.

This practice reflects the spirit of ERDG’s Just flip ’em!™ program, which since 1998 has encouraged simple acts of compassion and stewardship for these ancient mariners.

🌀 A small act of kindness can save a life.
🌐 horseshoecrab.org

03/16/2026

The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is competing in the Indianapolis Zoo’s Uproar Conservation Challenge, and you can help.

From March 16–19, the public can vote to help this remarkable species advance through the competition. The winning species will receive $10,000 to support conservation efforts.

Horseshoe crabs have survived on Earth for over 450 million years, quietly playing an essential role in coastal ecosystems.

With your help, they can advance to the next round.

🗳 Cast your vote here:
https://UproarChallenge.com

Please share and help raise awareness for these extraordinary animals.

02/20/2026

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has issued its 90-day finding declining to list the Atlantic horseshoe crab under the Endangered Species Act.

ERDG did not support the petition to list the species, as we believed the science did not warrant it at this time.

However, the work continues. Horseshoe crabs still face habitat loss and harvest pressures, and science-based management remains essential.

Conservation is an ongoing responsibility — not a single regulatory outcome.

Read the Federal Register notice here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/18/2026-03198/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-90-day-finding-on-petitions-to-list-the-atlantic-horseshoe-crab

12/19/2025

Happy Holidays! There's still time – Please don't forget us - You can read our full holiday message and latest updates here: https://mailchi.mp/f4bcba41f05d/happy-holidays-please-dont-forget-us-9303009

12/04/2025

Happy Holidays! Please don't forget us - You can read our full holiday message and latest updates here: https://mailchi.mp/095c688774f5/happy-holidays-please-dont-forget-us-9302675