Thousands of dead squid piling up on Provincetown beaches is normal, officials say

Beachgoers near Provincetown Harbor may have noticed what looked like an environmental disaster over the weekend: thousands of dead and dying squid washed ashore.

However, officials with the Provincetown harbormaster's office said in a Facebook post on Saturday that the squid aren't dying from a "toxic event, red tide, or pollution." Rather, it's a "completely natural process."

"Mother Nature is just doing her thing," the office said.

It's part of the Atlantic longfin inshore squid's life cycle, according to the harbormaster's office. These squid often live short lives, and migrate close to shore to reproduce. The adults then die shortly after spawning.

While this typically happens underwater where the carcasses would be "eaten by fish, crabs and other marine predators," the squid ended up on shore due to a combination of wind and tide, resulting in the dying animals getting pushed up onto the beach.

Now on land, the office expects the tide, as well as gulls, crabs and other land animals to take care of the squid.

As the squid break down, there could be a smell. But the office said anyone bothered by the stench can just "shovel them right back into the water."