Low tide has beach naturalists on duty this weekend

A lot to see and care for

2005 Archived News

If you pick up a beach critter and move it further down the beach could it be considered kidnapping?

It may sound extreme. But Beach Naturalist Colleen Feasel says, in a way, it's like snatching a baby from a nursery.

"I see it happen all the time especially during low tides," said Feasel. "These little creatures are tempting targets. People just want to get a closer look so they pick them up and move them. They just don't realize how damaging it is to relocate these little guys to different areas. Beach animals, such as crabs, are very territorial. The really do need to stay in the same habitat."'

You can find out more about the likes and dislikes of these cool creatures and how to protect them through King County's Beach Naturalists Program. Every summer these knowledgeable, beach savvy volunteers provide guided tours of our beaches on the weekends. It's a great learning experiences for the young and old and it's a real education about a natural habitat than can be very fragile. Last year, more than 100 volunteer Beach Naturalists spoke with more than 18,000 beach visitors.

Don't miss out. Look for Beach Naturalists at Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, South Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, Seahurst Park in Burien and Des Moines Beach Park on the following weekends:

• Saturday, June 11: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (tide -0.7 at 2:32 p.m.)
• Sunday, June 12: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (tide +.1 at 3:14 p.m.)
• Saturday, June 25: Noon - 4:00 p.m. (tide -2.7 at 2:02 p.m.)
• Sunday, June 26: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (tide -1.3 at 2:51 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 3: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (tide -1.4 at 9:51 a.m.)
• Monday, July 4: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (tide -1.7 at 10:30 a.m.)
• Saturday, July 9: Noon - 3:00 p.m. (tide -1.1 at 1:27 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 10: 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (tide -0.4 at 2:03 p.m.)
• Saturday, July 23: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (tide -2.7 at 12:58 p.m.)
• Sunday, July 24: Noon - 3:30 p.m. (tide -1.5 at 1:44 p.m.)

For proper beach etiquette, remember these tips:

Walk carefully. Watch where you are stepping and avoid eelgrass beds, which are near shore nurseries for many animals.

Leave dogs home. Dogs are not allowed on most Seattle beaches. Instead, take them to parks with designated "off-leash" areas.

Leave it at the beach. Don't take away rocks, shells, seaweed, logs and other beach items that are food and shelter for many critters.

Let it be. Don't pull on animals like anemones and barnacles that are tightly attached to rocks or pilings. Also, if you move rocks to look underneath, gently put they back the way they were. Rocks protect critters -- many too small to see -- that live under and on top of them. Also, fill in any holes you or others dig to protect the critters that live buried in the damp sand and need cover.

Remove trash. Remove the trash you bring and the trash you find, especially fishing line and plastic six-pack holders.

The Beach Naturalist Program is co-sponsored by Seattle Aquarium, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Forum for WRIA 8 (the Lake Wash./ Cedar/ Sammamish Watershed), Forum for WRIA 9 (the Green-Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed), King Conservation District, Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, People For Puget Sound, Russell Family Foundation and King County Water and Land Resources.

For more information about the Beach Naturalist program, call the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks at 206-296-8359, Toll-Free 800-325-6165 Extension 68359, TTY 800-833-6388 or the Seattle Aquarium at 206-386-4365. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to people with disabilities upon advance request.