Why is it illegal to take sand dollars in Florida?
Why is it illegal to take sand dollars in Florida? Sand dollars can't live away from water. It's illegal in the state of Florida to take a living sand dollar out of its natural habitat and home with you (just like any other living organisms you may find in shells).
Is a sand dollar dead if you find it on the beach?
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.
Why are there so many sand dollars on the beach?
As it turns out, the conditions at Ocean Beach provide a “perfect storm” for sand dollar populations to thrive. Rich local currents bring in loads of nutrients for sand dollars offshore, where they live for around a decade. When sand dollars die, they dislodge from the bottom of the ocean.