Photo: Laura Chamberlin, Celebrate Delaware Bay

All summer long, thousands of horseshoe crabs get stranded on the beach – either getting flipped over by waves or becoming stranded along the shore when they come to spawn. Getting stuck in the hot sand makes them vulnerable to predators and the elements. In the last 15 years alone, the horseshoe crab population has plummeted by 90 percent.

But you can help turn the tide for these sea creatures. The Wetlands Institute hosts volunteer walks to save the crabs. You’ll spend one to two hours combing the beach (wear shoes you won’t mind getting wet). When you find a crab, you simply place it back on its feet, facing the water.

Since its inception in 2013, the multi-partner program has rescued over 145,000 horseshoe crabs. Last year alone, more than 200 volunteers saved almost 80,000 crabs. To find out how you can help, visit the website.