Aububon, library, to host talk on horseshoe crabs ecology

Atlantic horseshoe crabs Photo courtesy of Breese Greg, USFWS

Mid-Coast Audubon and Camden Public Library will cohost a free online Zoom presentation on the ecology of horseshoe crabs in the Great Salt Bay on at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 15.

To register for the event, email Julia Pierce at [email protected] to request the Zoom login information.

The Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta hosts one of the best breeding locations for horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) in the state of Maine. Since 2003, taking and possession of horseshoe crabs has been prohibited in the state because of their small populations.

Sarah Gladu – director of education and citizen science for Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust in Damariscotta — will illuminate these ancient animals, their habits, their conservation status in Maine, and their importance to the overall health of our estuarine environment.

Gladu has been running the trust’s School for Field Naturalists program since 2005, and has worked in environmental education since 1992.

Mid-Coast Audubon’s mission is to promote long-term, responsible use of natural resources through informed membership, education and community awareness. For listings of other free programs and field trips it hosts, visit midcoast.maineaudubon.org/events/.