Frank Dorsey, June 2024 Report
The numbers of horseshoe crab counters were up, including high school students and some returned old-timers; but, the numbers of animals observed this mating season were down. After a start at 62 degrees Fahrenheit on May 17, the water temperatures dropped into the 50s and few horseshoe crabs (HSC) were observed for several days. The maximum number of HSC observed was 20, the lowest maximum in the last six years. Temperatures remained near 60 throughout the mating season which may account for the lower numbers. The downward trend over the past six years is not encouraging.
Of perhaps greater concern than the low numbers is that strong winds from the southeast in the January storms may have damaged the breeding habitat on Shipyard Point. As of June 4, the counts are very low. Ellen Hall’s students did find substantial numbers of mating HSC in the marsh in upper Hog Bay. Another potential cause for the lower numbers is that the great green crab bloom of several years ago may now be affecting the numbers of mating adults.
on Hog Bay