The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries says there is no need for concern after what initially appeared to be large numbers of dead horseshoe crabs washing ashore.
Officials received calls from Falmouth, Weymouth, and Nahant and after investigating, it turns out that people were finding the exoskeletons of molting crabs.
Late summer and early fall are the peak of horseshoe crab molting season and the DMF expects an increase in the number of exoskeletons found on area beaches over the next few weeks.
(Photo by BASTIEN INZAURRALDE/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: BASTIEN INZAURRALDE / AFP / Getty Images