With the fear of stingrays and other “unknown” sea-life swimming so close to the beach, we want our vacation home guests to be able to identify what they see, and while using caution, be able to enjoy the beach injury free!
If you were to come across a horseshoe crab for the first time you may think it’s dangerous.  With a hard shell the color of sand and a tail that looks like a spear you would think it would use it for a weapon or that it might contain poison.
Actually, horseshoe crabs don’t use the tail as a weapon at all and there is no poison to be found.  The tail which is called a telson, is just used to help it navigate and to turn itself back over should it get knocked onto it’s back.  That being said, the back is jagged and sharp.  It’s more or less a living fossil! So stepping on one would probably hurt the bottom of your feet, and no doubt make you yelp out of fear of what you just stepped on!
The horseshoe crab has no teeth or even a jaw, so it can’t bite at all, so no chance of getting bit by one. The pincers on the end of its legs are not very strong.  Just enough to pick up small pieces of food and direct it into its mouth.  Nothing at all like a real crab which can give you quite a pinch if you let it.
And speaking of those little pinchers, a horseshoe crab is not a crab, but rather a relative of spiders and scorpions.  Not that that makes you feel any better about them! But just know that if you come across one of these guys, that they are harmless, and actually do a lot of good in the medical community.
Again, we want our guests at Naples Florida Vacation Homes to have a safe vacation! Keep checking back to our Naples Vacation Blog for more beach safety tips and fun adventure ideas for the Naples and surrounding communities.

Relax at a Naples Florida Vacation Home

Naples is known as one of the most beautiful cities in Southwest Florida, and all of our rentals fit in with this spectacular place. In addition to their elegant designs, our rentals also feature all of the amenities you’ll need to have an amazing coastal getaway. With a diverse selection of pristine homes and condos available, there are sure to be several that you will love.
Let us help you choose the best one for you. Contact us today, and start counting down to an amazing trip. We look forward to helping you find your dream vacation home!