Answer
Horseshoe crabs are arthropods more closely related to spiders and scorpions than blue crabs—they predate dinosaurs and spawn on Mid-Atlantic bay beaches. Delmarva’s Coastal Bays and nearby Delaware Bay shores host major spawning events visible to careful observers. They are harmless to waders when left alone.
Sources: Maryland DNR · Maryland Coastal Bays Program · Visit Ocean City
Editorial visitor guidance for Ocean City, Maryland. Confirm current Town of Ocean City, Maryland DNR, NPS Assateague, and NWS rules when regulations or safety apply.
