Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey and Training Set
Date Posted: Thursday, April 7th, 20222023 Annual Slaughter Beach Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey
Since 1990, surveys have been conducted of horseshoe crabs spawning in Delaware Bay. Despite the horseshoe crab’s importance to the ecology of Delaware Bay, little is known about its population status. Spawning surveys give scientists an index of the population to assist them in the management of the species. Now, every spring on several peak spawning days, volunteers donate their time to count crabs on key beaches in Delaware and New Jersey.
The Delaware Nature Society at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, Milford, will once again be coordinating the annual Slaughter Beach horseshoe crab spawning survey
This year’s dates and times are:
Wednesday, May 03, 8:30 pm Thursday, June 01, 7:54 pm
Friday, May 05, 9:50 pm Saturday, June 03, 9:26 pm
Sunday, May 07,11:17 pm Monday, June 05,11:03 pm
Wednesday, May 17,8:27 pm Thursday, June 15, 8:06 pm
Friday, May 19,9:52 pm Saturday, June 17, 9:32 pm
Sunday, May 21,11:14 pm Monday, June 19, 10:53 pm
Please note that volunteers should arrive approximately 1 hour prior to the high tide so they can do the preliminaries necessary for the survey and walk to the beach starting point. A minimum of 3 volunteers will be assigned each night
For more information, contact Elliott Workman at Abbott’s Mill Nature phone 422-0847 cell 302-593-3565 Elliott@delawarenaturesociety.org or Mike Rivera 422-0847 cell 302-222-0903 Mike.Rivera@delawarenaturesociety.org
