Out on a side-walk: Hundreds of blue land crabs scuttle across a Florida street
- A Florida woman was surprised when an evening walk had unexpected company
- Abriel Arnel was returning home when she found she had to share the sidewalk
- Blue land crabs are common in Florida burrowing in the sandy coastlines
- Finishing breeding season and heavy rains make them come above ground
A street in Stuart, Florida has been overrun by a scuttling horde of blue land crabs after the rainy season.
Abriel Arnel, a Florida resident captured the eerie eight-legged scene as she returned home.
The large mass hurries away as Abriel advances down the sidewalk on her journey home.
In the background a white sedan passes, appearing to crush a few unlucky crustaceans.
Unnerved by the prospect of getting a painful pinch, Abriel comments: ‘Oh my gosh!’ before rushing on.
Speaking to Fox 35 she said: ‘We’ve lived here for a few years and this is the worst we’ve seen them!’
‘I was told they are blue land crabs. Apparently they burrow throughout the year, but it’s during this season (and their spawning season) when the heavy rain forces them out.’
The crabs hurry away into the surrounding hedgerows seeking shelter from Abriel as she squeals.
Blue land crabs are native to southern Florida and are generally not know to travel more than five miles from the coast, where they dig their burrows under the surface of the sand.
Given their small stature compared to humans they are quite shy by nature and will avoid humans as best they can unless threatened, where they will try to pinch whatever has scared them.
Some of the crabs become illuminated casting black speckles across the road as the white sedan rolls over the top of them
As the car pulls away Ariel focuses in on the crabs that block her path as they march across the sidewalk in front of her
Terrified of being stood on the crabs rush to the safety of a nearby hedgerow peering up at the camera from behind their leafy cover