Ghost Crab Hunting

Ghost crabbing is an amusing and exciting beach activity that is fun for all ages.  Often, it is simple things like ghost crab hunting that are the highlight of a summer beach vacation. There is something extraordinary about being near the ocean on a hot summer nights.  Make these nights even more thrilling by adding ghost crabbing to your schedule.  Here is the step-by-step guide that will start you out ghost crab hunting.  

What you'll need:

Picture

Preparation

Looking for ghost crabs at night could be frightening for young children.  Seeing a crab in the daylight is a lot less scary that seeing it at night.  The touch tank at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is great for learning about sea life in a controlled environment.  If interested, you can participate in a scheduled feeding at the touch tank.  Participants can feed various crab species.  A highlight of this presentation is feeding a horseshoe crab.  

The Coquina Outcrops and Carolina Beach State Park are places that are known for an abundance of various crabs species.  The staff and volunteers at the aquarium are very helpful and should be able to help if you have questions.  Recommended reading for young children: A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Step 1. Wait until dusk

Picture
  • At dusk, ghost crabs leave their burrows and scamper across the sand they until they reach the ocean to wet their gills.
  • You may be able to view the ghost crabs at the water's edge at dusk or at dawn.  
  • Please handle the ghost crabs with care.  With all the excitement, please make sure to stay off the dunes.  

Step 2: After dark

Picture
  • After dark, ghost crabs are usually found above the high tide line of the beach.  
  • Look for small holes in the soft sand, not the compacted, wet sand
  • Shine your flashlight or headlamp in the areas where you see small burrows in the sand

Step 3: Keep trying, don't give up...

Picture
  • If you're not having much luck finding ghost crabs, try turning of your flash light and waiting for a while before you turn it back on again.  
  • There is a good chance you'll see other people looking for ghost crabs on the beach at night.  If your stumped, consider asking for help.  
Picture
Sparklers and glow jewelry make summer nights extra special. Glow sticks are the safe alternative to sparklers

About Ghost Crabs

  • The genus Ocypode includes 28 species crabs that are known for being nocturnal and ghost-like in color.
  • Other nocturnal crabs not belonging to the genus Ocypode are often falsely classified as ghost crabs
  • Ghost crabs are semiterrestrial; they live most of the time on land but they need to be close to seawater.  
  • Ghost crabs need sea water to wet their gills.  Female crabs release eggs into the ocean.  
  • Click for more information about the Atlantic Ghost Crab