Hundreds of otter shell clams washed up on Studland Bay in Dorset after recent storms, with locals comparing the bizarre sight to a scene from Netflix series Stranger Things
A beloved beach in the South West was transformed into something resembling a scene from Stranger Things after hundreds of peculiar creatures appeared on the shoreline.
Visitors to Studland Bay, Dorset, stumbled upon hundreds of otter shell clams scattered across the sand. The sight was so bizarre and uncommon that beachgoers likened it to something from the Netflix series.
Whilst the spectacle was extraordinary, the truth behind it was considerably more heartbreaking, as it’s believed the clams were swept ashore due to recent storms battering the UK.
A spokesperson for the National Trust Purbeck Countryside shed light on the phenomenon, explaining how it might have happened and what the public should do.
They said: “Stranger things on our shores. As well as a shipwreck, there have been some seriously strange things washing up on our beaches over the last few weeks.”
“But the weirdest must be the masses of otter shell clams. These bivalves normally live buried deep beneath the seabed, using their siphons to filter plankton and algae from the water.”
Nevertheless, they clarified that recent weather conditions had driven them onto the beach for the first time in such substantial numbers since 2018.
They continued: “The recent easterly winds have whipped up waves powerful enough to scour the seabed and lift these creatures out of their hiding places. Many were dead.
“We were advised that they are unlikely to survive even if returned to the sea. A Dorset Wildlife Trust marine expert told us that the last dramatic event like this was in 2018.
“He estimated these clams to be around seven years old based on the growth rings on their shells. So the population had recovered since the previous washout.”
Local residents reacted with sorrow to the events, with one Julie Goward commenting: “Sad to see, hope the numbers recover again.”
The calamity occurs as the UK endures a seemingly relentless spell of rainfall. The Met Office has indicated there may be a brief break over the weekend before a return to cloudier conditions.
They stated: “The forecast for Saturday suggests that high pressure will remain largely in charge of the conditions, leading to a rainless day for many with the prospect of sunshine.
“From Sunday, there is an anticipated return to more Atlantic-dominated conditions as a weather front sweeps in from the west, bringing rain, strong winds and snow across some northern areas.”
