Island County
Clinton, WA
Molt Search Report
User Submitted Data
Observation Type: Opportunistic observation
Molts/crabs found: Yes
European green crabs found: Yes
Number of European green crab molts found: 1
Green crab #1
Condition of European green crab #1: Molt
Sex of European green crab #1: No abdomen present
Carapace width of European green crab #1: 65
Took the identification training some weeks ago. On vacation at sunlight beach, Whidbey Island with family and was surprised to find this on the beach.
Tidal Overview
1 hours 28 minutes before high tide
Data from Holly Farms Harbor, Holmes Harbor, Whidbey I. (4.1 miles away)
High Tide (Predicted): 12:24 pm, 7.9' MLLW
Loading NOAA Tide Data…
■ Observed
■ Predicted water level
⬤ Report time
Weather Overview
Wind Speed: 7.2 MPH
Wind Direction: W (261°)
Temperature: 66℉
Rainfall (Calendar Day): 0"
Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0"
2 Comments. Leave new
Thank you for helping monitor for green crabs with Molt Search. Unfortunately, you were spot on with your identification and we can confirm that you did find a green crab molt. We’re extremely grateful for your sighting here, as European green crab are not known to be established yet in this area. Last year a single green crab was captured at Cultus Bay, but no more have been found that far south since then. (For your reference, here’s a map of all green crab detections–molts, live, and dead–from within the Salish Sea from 2016 through the end of last season: tinyurl.com/wagreencrab). We’re passing this detection over to our partners at WDFW so that they can be aware and plan any potential follow-up trapping accordingly. Feel free to get in touch with us (crabteam@uw.edu) for any updates in a few weeks.
Thank you again for your report, Chany! We have two follow-up questions for you about the green crab molt you found. (1) Sex was marked as “Uncertain” but it looks to me based on your photo that there was no abdomen present, which is a slightly different selection. Is it indeed the case that no abdomen was present? (2) Thank you for including a measuring tape in the photo for scale. If you still have the molt would you be able to provide a measurement across the widest part of the carapace? Send me an email back and I can edit your report!