Wildlife

Sand Dollar Die-Off

Thousands of sand dollars mysteriously washed ashore in Oregon in a “mass die-off” event. Last week, the circular sea creatures showed up in droves on Seaside Beach in northern Oregon. Sand dollars are species of sea urchins that live on the sandy seafloor, typically close to shore. Beachgoers are likely familiar with the white exoskeleton of the dead sand dollar. But living sand dollars are covered with tiny gray or purple spines that make the animals look fuzzy.

“At this time, we do not know what has caused this. The sand dollars were alive when they washed in during high tides and became stranded, but they “are unable to make it back to the water once the tide recedes,” aquarium representatives said. “This is resulting in them drying up and dying.”

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