Thousands of sand dollars on Seaside Beach.

Thousands of live sand dollars are washing ashore on the south end of Seaside Beach. It appears that they are washing in during the afternoon high tides and getting stranding along the high tide line. They are still alive when stranded but are unable to make it back to the water once the tide recedes. Resulting in them drying up and dying. At this time, we do not know what is causing this, and these types of incidents usually have several contributing factors. We are also unaware if this is an isolated incident or if this is happing on other beaches.
Sand dollars are related to sea urchins. The outside of their shell is covered with millions of tiny spines which look like ‘fuzz’ or hair. These spines aid in the movement and feeding of the sand dollar. On the underside, in the center of the sand dollar is its mouth. A sand dollar’s diet consists of plankton, which they break down with their five small teeth. Each tooth closely resembles the shape of a bird, and many people refer to them as ‘doves’. Sand dollars are found worldwide and there are many different species, each with their own unique characteristics.
How can you tell if a sand dollar is alive? The best indication would be if the sand dollar is still ‘fuzzy’. You may want to leave the ‘fuzzy ones on the beach, as they can smell quite badly if taken home.