Beaches - Seashells by Millhill

Hermit Crabs in the Wild

My kids had hermit crabs as pets at one time. They lived in a little box and we provided various size shells for them to change into as they grew. (Hermit crabs live in the empty shells of mollusks.)

We fed them peanut butter and provided water in a little shell for them to drink. They would molt as they grew and we considered ourselves lucky to be present when they actually came out of the shell to scoot into a larger one.

They didn’t live very long and that was due to the fact that we didn’t really know what they needed to survive. Back then, I admit to being ignorant of keeping wild animals as pets. These days, I would have explained to my daughter that these animals belong in the wild.

When we got our pontoon boat, our family would cruise up and down the Intracoastal along the Indian River and stop at various little islands to explore and fish.

One of the islands we visited regularly was an island which I named “Broken Palm Island”. We noticed there were many very tiny hermit crabs roaming the beach there. I have a picture some place of my son with a little hermit crab crawling on his foot.

The kids thought it was awesome to find so many little crabs living in the wild as they were meant to. No one had to provide empty shells for these guys, they were finding plenty on the sandy shore.

Since this time, I’ve been out to the backwater areas and have discovered there are many more types of hermit crabs – and they are everywhere! I’ve even found a Giant Red hermit crab, which is rare for the area where I travel.

Sharks In Florida

People who go to Florida for vacation and stay in Disney World may never hear about the dangerous side of Florida life. They’re on vacation and really don’t want to know that Florida may not be as perfect a place as they think. At Disney I’ve never seen a poisonous snake or spider as big as my hand, but I sure saw them around my home.

Also sharks can inhabit the shallow waters along the coastline if fish are plentiful and news of shark bites can happen, especially among the surfers who visit the Ponce Inlet area at the jetty.

Lemon shark — Image by WIlly Volk via Flickr

We had friends who’s son was bitten by a shark while surfing near the jetty. The sharks don’t mean to bite people, they get confused and surfers look like turtles to them when they are paddling out to catch a wave. At least that is what I’ve heard. Fish tend to be plentiful near piers and the jetty (a rocky outcropping of rocks) area so it’s logical that sharks would go there to look for food. Continue reading “Sharks In Florida”

Check the Shore For Seashells After Hurricane Irene Passes

After hurricane Irene comes by and does her damage to the east coast, one thought to make you smile is that possibly the seashells washed ashore will offer a nice variety.

The churning ocean water will most likely dredge up some empty shells (and other things) and deposit them along the beaches. Even in Florida, where Irene won’t be felt as much, you may have some good pickin’s along the coast.

Nobody wants a hurricane to blow by, Continue reading “Check the Shore For Seashells After Hurricane Irene Passes”