Answer
Empty shells from open wet sand are a longtime visitor tradition—live mollusks, sand dollars still anchored, horseshoe crabs in spawn, and dune material must stay put. Confirm current Town and Beach Patrol guidance before you fill buckets.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Ocean City Beach Patrol · 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.
