Horseshoe Crab Mousepad Musmatta

This horseshoe crab was stranded on the beach; I returned him to the ocean. It was actually, probably, a "her" that came up at high tide to lay eggs. Migrating shorebirds depend upon the millions of eggs to gain strength to continue their migrations northward. The crabs come in by the thousands to lay eggs. Crabber found out that they made excellent bait in crab traps, and the horseshoe crab was almost driven to extinction by this market. Laws are now in place to protect them, and scientists are studying their blood looking for cures to diseases like cancer. They are an important resource for wildlife and mankind and should be carefully protected.