![\"Hermit](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/PointPrimPEIHermitCrabInMoonsnailShellNero-200x159.jpg\" "\\"Point")
<\/a><\/p>\nI grew up poking under rubbery, bubbly rockweed looking for tiny green crabs when visiting our ancestral island off the east coast of Canada. Older, but perhaps no wiser, I was literally astonished by the first rock pools I peered into on BC\u2019s Vancouver Island. Till then, I had thought anemones were small, delicate and spider-like. I discovered their tentacles can be as puffy and thick as a chenille car-washing mitt.<\/p>\n
Tidal pools combine the mystery of water, weed and wave in a tiny manageable spot. You can flip sea grasses up and away. You can walk around the edge till the sun no longer shimmers off the water and you can actually see down to the bottom. And, if you\u2019re brave, you can plunge your arm into the often icy depths, and pick something up for a quick closeup.<\/p>\n
A Fist Full of Sea Stars<\/h2>\n
Any mussel farmer in PEI can tell you that there is no shortage of sea stars in the waters around the Island. Sea stars (or starfish, for those of you who like the older name) prey on the mussels being cultivated for human consumption. Sure, a few still eat the wild mussels and clams, but most prefer the simplicity of strings of mussels provided by the local shellfish farmer.<\/p>\n This probably partly explains why the tidal pools at Point Prim were home to literally hundreds of starfish. The sea stars were predominantly purple, with white undersides. This made a vivid contrast to the rusty red rocks that lined the pools.<\/p>\n It was easy to pluck up the stars for a look, but surprisingly difficult to shoot photos. They wouldn\u2019t stay still! One arm or another would curl upwards the instant you thought you had a focus.<\/p>\n Still, their tiny tickles as they crept across our hands were a big hit.<\/p>\n We had found washed up washed-out moonsnails on other beaches around the Island. Here, we found vividly coloured ones, still tinted with sunset purple and pinks. However, we never got one to bring home. Every time we lifted one out of the water, a tiny angry housekeeper would surge out, waving indignant arms and antenna, demanding to be plunged back into the pool. The hermit crabs were entertaining and amusing as they scrambled around the pools, squabbling with others and searching for the perfect home. I just wished one had decided to vacate a moon snail just as we swooped in. Oh, well, maybe next time.<\/p>\n Crabs, miniature and intimidatingly large, prowled the pools. Barnacles waved tiny nets through the water, or snapped shut as the tide inched out. Periwinkles and other small snails crept across everything. We ran out of time before we ran out of shelled wonders to examine and identify. Around and amongst them grew and drifted various weeds from wide-leaved kelps to delicate grassy fronds and brittle crystalline coral-like bits.<\/p>\n If you like identifying the creatures you find in tidal pools, there are a couple of books that we found useful. (Local bookstores are well worth checking out as they keep titles in stock that are hard to find nationally.)<\/p>\n![\"Sea](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/PointPrimPEISeastar-200x181.jpg\" "\\"Point")
<\/a><\/p>\nMoonsnails and Hermit Crabs Inhabitants<\/h2>\n
Other Prim Creatures<\/h2>\n
![\"Barnacles](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/PointPrimPEIBarnacles-200x93.jpg\" "\\"Point")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s That?! Books to Identify Tidal Life in PEI<\/h2>\n
Where is Point Prim, PEI?<\/h2>\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/PointPrimPEItidalpoolsNero-200x170.jpg\" "\\"Point")
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