If the water starts to get murky, you are moving your feet too fast. Slow down or you’ll lose visibility. You might stir up various types of sea life, such as crabs, while you shuffle your feet.
In some cases, the sand dollar may be buried 3 or more inches deep. Use a shovel to unearth it.
For the ultimate low tide times, hit a beach when the calendar shows a full or new moon. Most people prefer looking for shells during morning low tides. However, some argue that afternoon low tides reveal more shells if the winds pick up.
This is an especially good tactic to use on a crowded beach, as most people will overlook piles of seaweed when searching for shells.
Make sure to be careful and watch for other debris that may have washed up during the course of the storm.
For example, Sanibel Island in the Gulf of Mexico is known for exceptional shelling. [7] X Research source
For example, the Department of Wildlife is responsible for many of the regulations followed on U. S. beaches. You can check their official website for additional details.
If you notice a sand dollar buried near a stingray, leave it be! Stingrays like to partially bury themselves in the sand in shallow water. If you reach down to grab a sand dollar and startle a stingray, it might lash out with its barbed tail. If you get the urge to broaden your shell search, don’t go for the shells that are currently occupied by hermit crabs or other wildlife.
If you handle a live sand dollar, it may coat your hand with a yellow substance called echinochrome. This is a natural and harmless secretion that indicates that the sand dollar is still breathing and is very much alive.
If you try to rinse them off by hand, it’s more likely that they will break under the pressure. Instead, keep them in the bucket and be very gentle as you let the water drain out.
Don’t leave a sand dollar in the solution for longer than 5 minutes or it will start to break apart due to the chemicals.
