4 Sea Creatures to Find in TidePools
Tide Pooling is a recreational hobby you can find along the West Coast, particularly popular in California. The tide recedes from the shores twice a day, and when it does, it leaves behind small or large pools of ocean water trapped in rock crevices. What is left behind in these tide pools is the chance to explore the ocean’s ecosystem. Sea creatures of all types can be found swimming in these pools. Here are four creatures you may be able to find on your next tide-pool hunt.
Starburst Anemones can be found in tide pools and exposed on rocky surfaces. They are disk shaped and can be in a variety of colors from greens to blues to reds and pinks. Even though they have short tentacles, they are harmless to humans if you feel the desire to gently touch one. They shrivel up when exposed to air on the rocks. However, do not be fooled because they are not dying, but simply conserving water until the tides come back in. In tide pools, you will see them fully expanded and the brightly colored starbursts they are. Their natural predators are sea slugs, starbursts, and snails.
2. Octopus
In my opinion, one of the more exciting sea creatures you can find is an octopus. At times, in pools large enough, you will see them playing with one another swimming about the tide pools. Or they will be hiding behind the kelp. The Two-Spot Octopus is a common species found in the tide pools of Northern California all the way down to Mexico and can reach up to 18 inches in size. Their natural predators are sea lions, Moray eels, and humans. They have a short life span of one-two years and typically die after mating and laying eggs.
3. Crabs
Of course you can’t have a proper beach without crabs. On California shores you will find several different species of crabs in tide pools, walking the beach (everyone loves a good beach stroll), and in the rocky cliffs and caverns. Some of these are Hermit Crabs, Shore Crabs, and Kelp Crabs. The tide pools create a habitat for the crustaceans that are plentiful in food and adequate in shelter. You can find an abundance of these sea creatures scurrying about.
4. Sea Hares
And last but not least, we have our Sea Hares. Sea Hares are a marine snail and the feed on the seaweed that is left behind in the tide pools. They look like Sea Slugs, except Sea Hares have an internal shell. If you see one on your next tide-pooling adventure, it is important to be aware that Sea Hares are like Starfish in the fact that they are very delicate and need to stay submerged beneath water for their health and well-being. If you see one and wish to pick it up, do so by gently cradling beneath the creature with your hand shaped like an open cup, and keep the Sea Hare submersed beneath the water. Then when you put it down, let it find a secure rock or kelp patch to latch onto and let it go along its way.
As always, it is important to respect wildlife and the natural ecosystem as a fragile one that can easily be influenced by human interference. It is important to not take any shell, rock, or kelp you may find, for it can be a source of protection or nutrition for the sea life.
To help best plan your tide pool excursion, it is helpful to download an App that shows the times of the tides throughout the day. You want the lowest tide of the day to expose most of the shore and create more bountiful tide pools, which typically happens during the first tide recession of the day which is typically early in the morning. You want to search for a tide recession that is in the negative numbers for best results.
Tide-pooling is a wonderful activity for the whole family to participate in, whether you are an adult or a child. It is a wonderful way to explore the natural world around us and learn about the biodiversity that lives right next door.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/marine/sea-snails-and-sea-slugs/sea-hare
https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/seafood-profiles/california-two-spot-octopus
https://under-morro-bay.ucsd.edu/invertebrates/starburst-anemone