PEI has many interesting wild animals, but some of the most beautiful – and unusual – are Sea Stars, often called Starfish. The waters around PEI are home to at least five species, including the Common Sea Star (Asterias rubens) and Forbes Sea Star (A. forbesi). It’s not hard to see where these invertebrates get their name: ask any kindergartener to draw a star, and you’ll get something that resembles this five-pointed shape. While our most common Sea Stars do have five arm

There are certain, shared experiences that unite those of us who grew up on PEI. For example, getting storm-stayed in winter, going to the beach in summer, and having annual run-ins with Jellyfish! There are at least three species of Jellyfish in the waters around PEI: the Lion’s Mane (Cyanea capillata), shown here, the smaller and more cinnamon-coloured Atlantic Lion’s Mane (Cyanea fulva), and the white Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita). Of the three, the Lion’s Mane is the most

There’s one PEI plant that most people are very familiar with, but few have seen growing in its natural habitat: Eelgrass (Zostera marina). This is how most of us know Eelgrass: washed up along the shore. Eelgrass actually grows in extensive beds offshore as well as in our bays and estuaries, and – despite what you may think – it’s a true flowering plant and not a seaweed. Eelgrass has roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and vascular tissue (structures that move water and nutr

PEI’s shores are full of interesting finds, including holey rocks like this one. At first glance, you may think this stone was shaped by waves and tides, but the creators of these holes are biological, not physical. Rocks like this are sometimes called witches’ stones, hag stones, or adder stones, although those terms are more commonly applied only if one or more of the holes passes all the way through. According to legend, witches’ stones bring good luck by letting only good

Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI. I recently received this...

Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist: your own personal ‘Google’ for all things wild on PEI! I recently received some photos from Pamela...