Great Bay Horseshoe Crabs

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Great Bay Horseshoe Crabs As a citizen science project, we are reinstating the horseshoe crab surveys in Great Bay Estuary. Locally, this phenomenon occurs in the Great Bay Estuary.

Every year, from around April-June, thousands of horseshoe crabs travel to the intertidal zone at high tide to spawn. As a citizen science project and an effort to gather an accurate estimate of the horseshoe crab population in our estuarine ecosystem, we are reinstating the horseshoe crab spawning and tagging surveys. These surveys will take place every day at high tide at five different locations throughout the Great Bay Estuary. Volunteers will walk along the selected spawning beaches and count the number of males and females present at these locations. We can use as many volunteers as possible (even if you would like to only participate in one survey for the experience)!

It's and of course we are excited....how about you? We celebrate these arthropods every day, because they are so impo...
20/06/2026

It's and of course we are excited....how about you? We celebrate these arthropods every day, because they are so important to the ecosystem and human health, and let's be honest, they are super cool 🐴👟🦀 What is your favorite fun fact about Horseshoe Crabs? There are so many interesting things about them it is hard to choose, but we think the coolest thing about them is....drumroll....their blue blood saves lives, and has likely saved each of ours (or at least made us healthier).

12/06/2026

Did you know horseshoe crabs have been roaming our planet for over 450 million years?

These incredible creatures are a vital part of coastal ecosystems, including estuaries like Great Bay. From supporting migratory shorebirds to contributing to life-saving medical research, horseshoe crabs play a much bigger role than many people realize!


Here is the most recent update for the 2026 monitoring season!
08/06/2026

Here is the most recent update for the 2026 monitoring season!

We are almost halfway through the monitoring season, so here is an update on the Horseshoe Crab counts!
29/05/2026

We are almost halfway through the monitoring season, so here is an update on the Horseshoe Crab counts!

29/05/2026

Every spring, a full‑moon tide brings horseshoe crabs back to our beaches to lay their eggs. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Ellen Goethel

We are just about halfway through the monitoring season, and likely to see peak spawning soon! Volunteers have been wor...
29/05/2026

We are just about halfway through the monitoring season, and likely to see peak spawning soon! Volunteers have been working hard to monitor 6 sites around Great Bay, every day around high tide....that is a total of 366 monitoring shifts!

18/05/2026

This pair was sighted at the Discovery Center property this morning. Peak spawning season is generally late May, and we will have education volunteers at the waterfront on select high tides to teach you all about Horseshoe Crabs 🙂 Watch social media for updates on when education volunteers will be at the water! You may also see research volunteers carefully walking along the high tide line to count crabs. Remember, these arthropods are busy making the next generation of Horseshoe Crabs, a very important (and cool!) species....watch and learn, but let them do their thing!

The week one data recap is below!
08/05/2026

The week one data recap is below!

08/05/2026

The first pair of spawning crabs has been sighted at the Discovery Center property! This photo was taken by a research volunteer on the evening of May 7th. Peak spawning season is generally late May, and we will have education volunteers at the waterfront on select high tides to teach you all about Horseshoe Crabs 🙂 Watch social media for updates on when education volunteers will be at the water! You may also see research volunteers carefully walking along the high tide line to count crabs. Remember, they are busy making the next generation of Horseshoe Crabs, a very important (and cool!) species....watch and learn, but let them do their thing!

A nearby monitoring program!
03/05/2026

A nearby monitoring program!

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