Horseshoe crabs are “living fossils” – they have been around since the age of the dinosaurs. Today their unique blue blood is used by the biomedical industry to test for impurities in drugs, and they also serve as bait in eel and whelk fisheries. This has led to over-harvesting, and so there is concern that their population is in jeopardy. Many states along the Atlantic coast have developed programs to monitor and manage horseshoe crab populations, but not New Hampshire.

Therefore, it is important for citizen scientists to step up and play a big role in this process. Interested in seeing horseshoe crabs in their natural environment? Volunteers can sign up as individuals or in groups—it’s a fun and social activity!

Come join us to learn about this fascinating coastal species and how you can contribute to the knowledge and management of the Great Bay’s horseshoe crab population. Once trained, volunteers can sign up to fill horseshoe crab survey shifts, which take place once daily, seven days per week, around high tides from May-June. Volunteers can sign up for as many, or as few shifts as they’d like.

Accessibility:

Participation in this project requires walking on rocky shorelines and uneven terrain. Waterproof shoes are highly recommended, but not necessary. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the monitoring sites.