Help Track the Locations and Movements of Bay Creatures
Small towns along the Bay have been teaming up with the College of Southern Maryland and a horseshoe crab rescue group to track the movements of horseshoe crabs.
By reporting sightings of tagged horseshoe crabs, the location details help U.S. Fish and Wildlife follow the movements and habits of a species that plays a vital role in the Bay ecosystem.
You too can help U.S. Fish and Wildlife track horseshoe crabs. If you spot a tagged horseshoe crab, go to https://www.fws.gov/crabtag/ or call 1-800-448-8422 and provide information such as the tag number location and condition of the crab (they also would like you to report if you find the tag without the crab).
Horseshoe crabs aren’t the only Bay inhabitants being tracked that you can report.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources would like you to report sightings of dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and whales by calling 1-800-628-9944. Since 1990, Maryland has answered more than 1,400 reports of strandings.
If you happen to spot a Right Whale from Virginia to Maine, NOAA wants you to call them at 877-942-5343 and let them know.
Fossil hunters can also get in on the tracking action. The Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland is asking fossil finders to report findings to a global site guide, gofossilhunting.com.
