Man Spots Dozens of Horseshoe Crabs Stranded on Their Backs and Jumps Into Action

Most people would walk right past, but one man couldn't ignore what he was seeing. After spotting Horseshoe Crabs stranded on their backs along the shoreline in Cape May, New Jersey, Kylie Ogden's boyfriend, Jeremy, immediately sprang into action to help them.

At first, it looks like there are only a handful of crabs in need of assistance. Then Kylie pans across the beach, revealing dozens of them scattered in the sand. Watch as Jeremy gets to work, carefully flipping each Horseshoe Crab back over so it can continue on its way. His simple act of kindness has viewers applauding his efforts and serves as a reminder that even small actions can make a big difference for wildlife.

@kylieogden

Jeremy saving the day also why were there so many #fyp#beach#horseshoecrabs#capemay#capemaynj#summer#beachwalk#jerseyshore

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Kylie shared in the caption, "Jeremy saving the day!! Also, why were there so many?" which is exactly what we were wondering, too.

Related: Fisherman Finds a Giant Hermit Crab in Crab Trap and People Are Shook

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Why Are So Many Horseshoe Crabs Upside Down?

There was one question that everyone was asking: "Why are they ALL upside down????"

According to A to Z Animals, every spring, the beaches along Cape May and the Delaware Bay fill with Horseshoe Crabs coming ashore during high tides to spawn. During the process, waves can flip the crabs onto their backs.

While they normally use their long tail, called a telson, to right themselves, many become stranded above the waterline or trapped among rocks and other obstacles. Without help, they can quickly dry out in the sun and die.

What's especially cool is that Jeremy isn't the only one helping them. During spawning season, thousands of trained volunteers head to Delaware Bay beaches to flip stranded Horseshoe Crabs back over. As A to Z Animals notes, "The fix is unglamorous, a flip of the wrist on a wet beach," but those small acts can have a huge impact on the survival of a species whose eggs provide an important food source for migrating shorebirds across an entire hemisphere.

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM.