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TRAVEL
Discover
BY ALAN HODGE
Not everyone who goes to the
Carolina coast is interested in
golf, shopping, working on their
tan, or invading the newest
restaurant. For many folks, a trip
to the seashore provides an
opportunity to enjoy the many
types of flora and fauna found
there.
The salt marshes and flats
that make up the backwaters of
the Carolina beach zone are
home to many species of crabs.
One of the most common types
is the Fiddler Crab. Fiddlers live
in small burrows which they
excavate in the soft salt mud.
These burrows can be as long as
two feet in length. During high
tide, the crab plugs up the end of
. his burrow with mud and sits
inside dry as a bone.
Another type of crab fre-
quently seen at the beach is the
Ghost Crab. This species scurries
across the hot sand and dives
into its burrow when danger
approaches. The Ghost Crab’s
pale coloration and secretive
ways are the reason for its name.
Another reason is their nocturnal
habits. Unlike the Fiddler Crab
which prefers marshy areas, the
Ghost Crab is generally found
where conditions are dry.
In addition to these land
crabs, there are several types
which live either in coastal back-
waters or the sea. Characterized
by the blue tinges of coloration
on its shell, the Blue Crab is a
popular food item. Blue Crabs
are often caught by beach goers
using a long handled net and a
fish head or chicken neck tied on
a string to lure the crab in range.
Sometimes seen washed up
on the beach, the Horseshoe
Crab is a relic from the age of
dinosaurs. The animal family to
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August 1 & 2, 2001
interesting natural facts at Carolina’s seashore
which the Blue Crab belongs
dates back over 600 million years.
Not a true crab, nor a crustacean,
the Horseshoe Crab is actually
more closely related to spiders. A
good time to see a live Horseshoe
Crab is during late spring and
early summer when they crawl
ashore to breed.
Beach combing for shells is a
popular pastime for many visi-
tors to our state’s coast. One type
of shell, the Scotch Bonnet, is
actually the official state seashell
of North Carolina. A familiar
sight to beach goers is the little
Coquina Clam. These small mol-
lusks are found in large numbers
just at the water’s edge and come
in an amazing variety of colors. A
tasty soup can be made from
these little diggers by putting a
bunch of them in boiling water.
Perhaps the most common
shell type on the Carolina coast
is the Ark Shell. Characterized
by their “ribbed” appearance,
Ark Shells can be from one to
four inches wide. More than ten
species are found in the Carolinas
region.
Another common resident of
the Carolina coast is the oyster.
Found in backwater estuaries and
sounds, the oyster lives in depths
from waterline to 40 feet. Large
numbers of oysters often group
together in beds known as
“rakes.” An interesting fact about
the oyster is that it changes gen-
der several times throughout its
lifespan. Large oysters-are gener-
ally females.
Bird watching is a very popu-
lar activity along the North
Carolina shore. Literally dozens
of bird species call the Carolina
coast home throughout the year.
Ranging in size from tiny sand-
pipers to majestic pelicans and
herons, these feathered residents
play a vital role in maintaining
the ecological balance of
nature.
Several types of birds can
be seen scurrying along the
Carolina surf line. These
include the Sanderling, the
Ruddy Turnstone, and the
Willet. Soaring over the sea
shore, the Brown Pelican is also
a familiar sight. An interesting
fact about Pelicans is their use
of the sea surface to form a
cushion of air under their
wings. This gives them the
ability to skim very close to the
‘water for long distances.
Two stately bird types often
seen at the beach are the Great
White Heron and the Osprey.
Standing about four feet tall,
the Great White Heron is a
wading bird that feeds on
frogs, fish, and shrimp. A bird
of prey, the Osprey has the
ability to snatch its food direct-
ly from the water with sharp
talons. The Osprey is in the
same family as hawks and
eagles.
The Carolina coast is home
to an amazing variety of fish
species. Little wonder that fish-
ing ranks among the most pop-
ular pastimes for beach goers.
Whether your fishing fancy is
casting from the pounding
surf, or perching on a pier,
there are enough types of fish
in the water to fill a cooler.
Popular types of fish along
our shore include bluefish,
croaker, spot, flounder and
spotted weakfish or sea trout.
For those with the desire for a
fight, the King Mackerel and
Red Drum are top choices. The
~ world record Red Drum, a 94
pound monster, was reeled in
from the Cape Hatteras surf
several years ago. This same
species is also our official state
fish.
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Sharks also inhabit the
waters off our Carolina beaches.
Don’t worry, only five docu-
mented shark attacks have ever
been recorded in our state. More
folks die in the U.S. each year
from bee stings and penicillin
reactions than in 50 years of
shark attacks. Types of sharks
that one finds in North Carolina
waters includes the Dogfish,
Mako, Blacktip, and Lemon.
Grasses form a vital link in
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the survival of the dune struc-
ture along the Carolina shore.
Two of the most important are
Sea Oats and Beach Grass. Sea
Oats range from Texas to
Virginia and are native to the
Carolina. Beach Grass is an intro-
duced species. Both Sea Oats
and Beach Grass help prevent
erosion and build dunes by
holding grains of sand in the
root structure.
Several types of trees are also
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Photo courtesy of NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
native to our state’s coastal
region. These include the Live
Oak, Laurel Oak, Palmetto, and
Yaupon Holly. Yaupon tea has
been a curative tonic for coastal
dwellers for hundreds of years.
A landscape as richly diverse
in animals and plants as any on
earth, the Carolina seashore is a
treasure chest of interesting natu-
ral facts waiting to be discovered.
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