I received a question from a reader about why we took shells from a protected area that I mentioned in the previous post. The answer is that the BEACH is not protected, but rather it is the dunes that are protected. When we arrived at the campground and asked about shelling, the Ranger enthusiastically pointed us to the best shelling spots, including the area I described in my last post, cautioning that the dunes throughout the park are restricted access, and each beach access site along the road points out the same thing: stay on the path ONLY until you reach the beach, do not walk on dunes ANYWHERE. The dunes are protected nesting habitat for several species of birds, including the snowy plover, but the beach is fair game, whether you access it totally by foot along the entire 8 mile length or approach it through the designated access points/paths along the road.
Please note: we are great fans of state and national parks, so we are ALWAYS careful to observe all park rules, and would not have taken anything other than photos if shelling was not allowed!! That said, my picnic bench full of shells does not even make the slightest dent in the volume of shells along that shoreline - REALLY, I promise!!!
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