Hiding in plain sight, a “clay baby” lies among the rocks at Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve on Fox Island, Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.

Clay babies, like any other chunk of solid material, help protect beaches from erosion and removing them could increase the rate of shore erosion, Goldstein said.

Clay babies, like any other chunk of solid material, help protect beaches from erosion and removing them could increase the rate of shore erosion, Goldstein said.

Hiding in plain sight, a “clay baby” lies among the rocks at Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve on Fox Island, Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.