EVENT FULL

This is the time of year where adult female horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) will begin to nest after spawning. Females will come onto shore during high tide, according to the New and Full Moon phases. Cornell Cooperative Extension has a Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network, which is a community science effort throughout the entire state, aimed to gather data for management and conservation purposes. We need your help in counting and tagging efforts to assess the status of these magnificent creatures!

Be ready to get out on the beach at night, we will need to be in waders to help retrieve the horseshoe crabs along the shoreline! Waders will be provided. We will be meeting at West Meadow Beach located on Trustees Road in Stony Brook.

Due to the fact these tagging events are occurring on school nights, you are welcome to stay for a shorter time frame (if the project runs until 12 AM, it is not expected of you to stay for the entire duration). Stay for as little or as long as you’d like, any amount of effort helps! Unfortunately, the time frames are strictly determined by tidal cycles/moon phases. Nesting season concludes at the end of June (does not last through the summer).

**Times are according to the optimal tides for horseshoe crab patterns, hence why this event will be taking place late at night.**

WHAT TO BRING/FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:

• Warm clothing and rain boots/tall rubber boots
• Waders- will be provided
• Headlamp or flashlight (I’ll have a couple extra)
• Water bottle