Should you pick up sand dollars?

Sand dollars can't survive out of the water, so if you find a live one, put it gently back in the water. If you find a sand dollar on the beach, it is probably no longer alive and it is ok to take. Even sand dollars that look grey or tan in color are dead if they have no tiny coating of furry spines on them.



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If you find a live one, return it to its home by placing it gently on the sea floor, so it can continue to play its important role in Sanibel's ecosystem. These dead sand dollars have been bleached by the sun and are fine to take home and enjoy. Be careful when transporting them, they are fragile!

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SAND DOLLARS are tricky but I love chicken salad/deli salad containers for these. If you pack these with paper towels (again, you can use anything for padding for layering- I've even heard people using slices of bread) so they don't move around too much, they will probably make it home without breaking.

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Bowman's Beach and Tarpon Bay Beach are two beaches in particular known for having an abundance of sand dollars, making them great destinations to put on your bucket list.

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