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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · 2d

Have you decorated for Halloween? This sharp nosed decorator crab is decorated to help them blend in with their chosen habitat. This one has decorated itself with tunicates and sponges. These crabs have Velcro-like hooks on their carapace which helps things to stick. #crab #docktober

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · 13d

PLANKTON: WANDERERS OF THE SALISH SEA🌊

From diatoms to Lion’s Mane Jellies, come learn all about the organisms that keep our ocean ecosystem running!

The Marine Life Center is located in Downtown Gig Harbor, and is open Wed-Sun 11-6pm. FREE ADMISSION. We’ll “sea” you soon!🦀

#plankton #salishsea

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · 14d

Happy World Octopus Day! Our Pacific Red Octopus, Roomba, came out and put on a show this morning. We’re open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11am-6pm and we’re located in the heart of downtown Gig Harbor. You can’t miss it, it’s the building with octopus arms! #worldoctopusday #marinelofecenter

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Sep 8

Roomba has found a new den!🐙

Octopus live in “dens”, secure places that they can hide their soft bodies from would be predators. These dens can often be identified by their “gardens”, decorations made from the parts of past meals!

Stop by the Marine Life Center Wednesday-Sunday 11-6pm to see her!👀

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Sep 2

We’re forever curious about tidepools!

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Aug 28

Love it!🐙

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Aug 28

Join us for Salish Sea Storytime! 🐙📖

Every Wednesday at 11:30am, join one of our naturalists as we dive into different stories about our waterways!

After the story, we have a short activity for kiddos to show their creative side! Join us on Wednesdays for this FREE weekly activity! 🦀

#storytime

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Aug 1

What do we "sea" here?
Check out our weekly newsletter to find out:
Kopachuck Re-Opening, Crabby Creature Feature, and Beach Clean-Up Opportunity!
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Wildside Weekly July 31, 2025

Email from Kopachuck Re-Opening, Crabby Creature Feature, and Beach Clean-Up Opportunity! Wildside Weekly July 31, 2025 Photo: This is a picture of a Mottled Sea Star (Evasterias troschelii). Spec

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jul 19

What wonderful creatures will we find during the next round of extreme low tides? Join us to learn more about flatworms and other amazing sea life that calls the Salish Sea home. More details for each beach tour can be found on the Harbor WildWatch website including where to meet. #beachtour

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jul 4

Fourth of July Sea Cucumber

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jul 3

Roomba, our current Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens), was out and about today exploring her habitat! Here is a great example of how these octopuses can change the color and texture of their skin. Roomba went from bright red, to a tawny brown, and then a white shade within seconds. 🐙

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jun 29

Check out our Weekly Newsletter: Summer Camp Success, Dive Into History, and Wrapping up June Low Tides!

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Wildside Weekly June 26, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Summer Camp Success, Dive Into History, and Wrapping up June Low Tides! Wildside Weekly June 26, 2025 Photo: This Thursday, we had a special activity at our Farmer's Ma

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jun 15

Check out our weekly newsletter!
Estuary Mystery, Molt Survey Training, and Wonders of the Waterfront Tours!
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Wildside Weekly June 14, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Explore the Estuary, Molt Search Training, and Wonders of the Waterfront Tours! Wildside Weekly June 14, 2025 Photo: A huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers and team

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Jun 11

This weekend we walked the Maritime Gig Festival Parade as a “smack” of jellies!

One of the biggest events in Gig Harbor, our Harbor WildWatch crew and volunteers designed their own jelly costumes to walk in the parade with🪼

All that hard work paid off, we won Best Costume in the parade! Woohoo!

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · May 30

Happy World Otter Day!

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · May 21

On Wednesdays we wear pink.

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · May 16

Naturalist Training THIS Weekend (5/17), Blue Water Task Force Results, Bluetits-Green Crabs Training and Cold Plunge (5/18) & Baby Perch Announcement: Wildside Weekly conta.cc/4kqwMaj

Wildside Weekly May 15, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Naturalist Training THIS Weekend (5/17), Blue Water Task Force Results, Bluetits-Green Crabs Training and Cold Plunge (5/18) & Baby Perch Announcement Wildside Weekly M

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · May 4

Talk about texture! This is the arm of an ochre star, Pisaster ochraceus. Sea stars belong to the phylum Echinodermata which means “spiny skin” clearly seen here. The skin is covered with gills and to keep them clear of any debris they possess tiny pinchers called pedicellariae #seastar #salishsea

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · May 2

Check out our weekly newsletter!
Seaweed Pressing, Monitoring for European Green Crabs, and Low Tide Tours
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Wildside Weekly May 1, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Seaweed Pressing, Monitoring for European Green Crabs, and Low Tide Tours Wildside Weekly May 1, 2025 Photo: Our Low Tide Tours are CRITTER CRAZY this week! Guests have

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 25

Join Harbor WildWatch for a fun, educational and FREE public tour along the stunning shorelines of the Salish Sea. Please check the website calendar for program details such as where to meet, what shoes to wear, Discover Pass needs for State Parks, etc: Harborwildwatch.org #learnhavefun #lowtide

Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 25

Happy volunteer appreciation week!
There is absolutely no doubt about it, we could not do what we do without our AMAZING volunteers!
Please join us in saying a big and heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing volunteer team!🦀

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 19

Check out our weekly newsletter!
Blue Water Task Force Results, Low Tide Tours in the News, & Explore the Estuary Workshops

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Wildside Weekly April 17, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Blue Water Task Force Results, Low Tide Tours in the News, & Explore the Estuary Workshops Wildside Weekly April 17, 2025 Photo: Our beautiful Painted Anemone (Urticina

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 18

Happy Fry-Day! 208 of these little chum salmon fry were released last week by students from Minter Creek Elementary. By now, they are out in the estuaries adjusting to the salt water. In 3-5 years and luckiest of them will return to spawn.

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 11

Check out our weekly newsletter!
Chum Fry in the Estuary, Sunflower Sea Star Research Article, Summer Camp Registration is OPEN & Gratitude to Ocean5

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Wildside Weekly April 10, 2025

Email from Harbor WildWatch Chum Fry in the Estuary, Sunflower Sea Star Research Article, Summer Camp Registration is OPEN & Gratitude to Ocean5 Wildside Weekly April 10, 2025 Photo: A thank you n

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Harbor WildWatch @harborwildwatch.bsky.social · Apr 9

It’s a good thing geese are waterproof! Today’s weather really was all over the place.