We Love Starfish

Stella Mare is Latin for sea star or starfish, those amazingly wonderful and mysterious animals that are found in every ocean, from the shallowest warm tidal pools to cold abyssal depths of 20,000 feet.

Most starfish have five arms, but some have many more. They are both predator and prey. They wrap their arms around mollusks and suck them in through the opening on the underside of their bodies. Or starfish are snatched up by birds, crabs, and sea otters as they creep along the sea floor or beach with their thousands of tiny tube feet.

We love sea stars – that’s why our beautiful resort is named after this unique creature.

Perhaps you have seen dried starfish in souvenir shops. Perhaps you should read this story by Loren Eisely…

While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish; there were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish and hurled it into the sea, “It makes a difference to that one.” ~ adapted from The Star Thrower

Starfish move slowly when out of the water

If you find a starfish on a sandy beach, pick it up gently, and return it to the sea. Most stars found on the beach have either been washed ashore by waves or were caught unaware by an outgoing tide. Such animals typically don’t do well for more than short periods of exposure.

If your star is stuck to a rock, then you will do more harm than good trying to get it loose. Many species of stars have evolved to be exposed for several hours without ill effect; your starfish is likely just waiting for the tide to come in.

Starfish are not poisonous, they are not edible, they are not even fish. If you see a sea star on the beach, please be kind. Do not touch this animal unless it is to gently take him back to the water.

Then take a picture and come back to Stella Mare RV Resort. Resume lounging by our big sparkling pool and imagine how you will explain this encounter with an authentic Stella Mare to your friends.