The horseshoe crab population has begun to dwindle

Researchers have also observed fewer females returning to spawn at some of the most harvested areas. Our impact on horseshoe

crabs extends beyond the biomedical industry, too. Coastal development destroys spawning sites, and horseshoe crabs are also

killed for fishing bait. There's ample evidence that their populations are shrinking. Some researchers have started working to

synthesize horseshoe crab blood in the lab. For now, we're unlikely to stop our beach trips, but hopefully, a synthetic

alternative will someday eliminate our reliance on the blood of these ancient creatures.