Five years ago, Pacific mole crabs (Emerita analoga) appeared dramatically on the exposed beaches of Pacific Rim National Park. The huge numbers that showed up in 2016 was astounding. At the time, I wondered if they would survive and establish themselves. The odds seemed long. Prior to 2006, there had been sporadic reports of influxes of mole crabs (notably between …
Crabs
Mole Crab Mania!
I’ve been spending summers out on the west coast since 2006 and I’ve never seen anything like it. Earlier this July, a large number of juvenile Pacific mole crabs made an appearance at Wickaninnish Beach. And they’re still here! A handful of Pacific Mole Crabs (Emerita analoga) found at Wickaninnish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Pacific mole crabs …
Lumpy Crab at Florencia Bay
Earlier this week I spent two hours at Florencia Bay in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Tide pool explorers familiar with better known locations like the rocks at Wickaninnish Beach, Green Point or Schooner Cove sometimes overlook this remarkable beach. Sometimes exploring less popular areas results in the discovery of unusual creatures like the lumpy crab! The boulders at Florencia …