Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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A Crab's New Clothes

By John GreshamPosted September 20, 2015

 

A Dead Crab?

Perhaps you have walked along Fossil Beach or some other shoreline of York River State Park and noticed what appeared to be dead crabs. 

The Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers aren’t as healthy as they were back in the days of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. Because of conservation of land, water, and the efforts to fight pollution; our rivers are cleaner than they were in decades past. Instead of a dead crab, what you may be noticing is the crab’s old clothes.

Watch the crab change its clothes

Too big for it's britches

Molting Magic

Blue crabs grow a new shell inside of their old one. The soft, new shell eventually grows too big to fit in the old, hard shell. So, the crab cracks the shell in the rear and sides and slowly crawls out of the old shell including the legs and claws. The remaining old shell, also called the molt or shed, contains nothing except old gills.

A Crab's New Clothes

Watch a crab change its clothes (click the image above)

Continued Growth

The soft shell crab is very vulnerable to being attacked and eaten by fish and other crabs. It has to hide in submerged grasses and obstructions until the soft shell hardens, about three days. As for the old shell, it simply washes up on the shore and is eventually broken down over time. The next time you see what appears to be a “dead” crab while visiting York River State Park, don’t fret. Chances are, it’s just an empty shell. Somewhere in the water, a bigger “beautiful swimmer” has a new set of clothes.

A crab in a new suit

A crab in a new suit

Directions to York River State Park: From I-64, take the Croaker Exit 231B. Go north on Route 607 (Croaker Rd.) for one mile, then right on Route 606 (Riverview Rd.) about one and a half miles to the park entrance. Take a left turn into the park.

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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