Salish Sea-wide Molt Blitz!

Molt Search is a program by Washington Sea Grant, with partnership from Washington State University Extension and many local partner organizations. By participating you can help monitor shorelines across Washington for invasive European green crabs and native Dungeness crabs by following a simple protocol: a timed collection of all molts on the shore, submitted via MyCoast. Find out more at wsg.washington.edu/moltsearch

What’s a Molt Blitz? The goal is to create the largest single-day dataset on molts across inland Washington. Can we find new areas of green crabspread? What patterns can we uncover in where juvenile Dungeness crabs are living and growing? To contribute to this effort, Molt Search on as many local shorelines as you’re able to reach on June 26th. Remember to crush your collection after submitting it to avoid any doublecounts by Searchers coming behind you.

Already trained? Stop by any local shoreline on June 26th to complete a Molt Search independently, contributing to Washington’s largest single-day dataset on molt distribution across the Salish Sea. Or you’re welcome at any of the locations below to get your questions answered by trainers and meet fellow Molt Searchers.

Need to get trained or want to participate with others? Trainings are offered throughout the month of June (map will soon be posted below), including a Virtual Training on Zoom (date tbd). Shorelines across the region will be activated by local partners on June 26th. Stop by one near you to get trained or mingle with other Molt Searchers. Bring a friend!

Find an event near you on the Molt Search Event Map that will soon be shared (wsg.washington.edu/moltsearch)

Molt Search trainers will be on-site 6/26 at several locations to answer all your green crab questions & walk you through Molt Search protocols.