FOLK Blog

If you’ve ever wandered along the shore near Lovers Key State Park and spotted a strange, helmet-shaped shell washed up on the sand, you’ve had a close encounter with one of the ocean’s oldest and most remarkable creatures — the horseshoe crab . Though its name might make you think it’s related to crabs or lobsters, this living fossil is actually more closely related to spiders and scorpions . And while it may look a bit like something from a science fiction movie, the horseshoe crab is one of nature’s greatest success stories — and one of the most important creatures in the sea. A Living Fossil That Has Stood the Test of Time The horseshoe crab has been on Earth for over 450 million years — long before the dinosaurs appeared and hundreds of millions of years before humans walked the planet. That makes it one of the oldest surviving species on Earth. Over all that time, its body design has barely changed. Clearly, evolution got it right the first time. The hard, curved shell protects it from predators, while its long, pointed tail — called a telson — helps it flip over if it gets stuck upside down. Despite their slightly intimidating appearance, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. They don’t sting, bite, or pinch. Instead, they quietly roam the shallow ocean floor, feeding on clams, worms, and other small organisms. Here in Southwest Florida , they’re a familiar but often overlooked part of our coastal ecosystem. Every spring, these ancient creatures crawl ashore during high tides to spawn and lay eggs , continuing a cycle that has endured for nearly half a billion years.

Lovers Key State Park a true coastal treasures: a string of barrier islands, wide white-sand beaches, mangrove-lined estuaries and a rich cast of wildlife.

The enchanting beauty of Lovers Key State Park, with its pristine beaches, lush mangroves, and diverse wildlife, is a treasure that many hold dear.

If you’ve ever heard the sudden, heartbreaking thud of a bird hitting a window, you know how unsettling it can be.

The above quote by Albert Einstein could not fit better with Friends of Lovers Key (FOLK) and Lovers Key State Park (The Park).

Summer at Lovers Key State Park is about more than just sandcastles and sunshine—it’s about discovery, adventure, and inspiring a lifelong love of nature.

On the time side it has now been more than two years since the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

After several years of challenges brought by Covid and the devastation of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Trot 5K Run at Lovers Key State Park has finally returned.

On February 22, 2024, the Friends of Lovers Key (FOLKS) proudly hosted the annual Beauty and the Beach Gala, one of Southwest Florida’s most anticipated evenings of community, celebration, and support for our treasured state park.