The Playa Las Tortugas Crab Migration
Every June, when the air turns humid, the blue land crabs emerge from their inland underground burrows and begin their migration to the sea in Playa Las Tortugas.
Thousands of crabs make their way through the Playa Las Tortugas gardens. It’s quite a spectacle. It’s a difficult journey as many predators will hunt them including hawks, raccoons and people.
Blue Crab Migration.
Making their way to the sea.
Blue land crabs spend the dry season safe in underground burrows. Once summer humidity arrives it’s safe for them to emerge and head to the ocean to lay their eggs. The crab migration picks up not too long after whale season.
Learn More About Blue Crabs
The crab migration in Playa Las Tortugas lasts for a few weeks. While the exact timing is difficult to predict, June 15th is a good reference point for its beginning.
You’ll see crabs crossing the grass, and if you look into the gardens, you’ll spot even more. When approached, they display a defensive stance, raising their claws as if preparing for battle.
As the weather turns humid, the crabs emerge from their burrows, sometimes several kilometers from the ocean. Males perform elaborate mating dances before pairing off. After mating, females carry up to 500,000 fertilized eggs to the sea.
This phenomenon represents a significant transfer of energy within the ecosystem. Crabs act as the forest floor’s clean-up crew, feeding on vegetation. In turn, they become prey for numerous predators. When females release their eggs, they provide a vital food source for fish as well.
It’s essential to avoid disrupting the migration, placing manmade obstacles in their path, or harvesting more than a few crabs for consumption.