Imagine a shellfish able to jump away from danger. The Heart Cockle is a soft-bodied animal that lives between two hard shells connected by a hinge. Sensing a predatory sea star nearby, the cockle sticks a muscular foot from between its shells and gives a sudden push, vaulting up and out of harm's way.

Looked at edge-on, the cockle’s shells form a heart-shape, so it’s called the "heart" cockle. It’s one of many kinds of bivalves living in Puget Sound. Cockles feed by drawing water in one tube, or siphon, filtering out tiny edible creatures, and then expelling the water through another tube. Because these siphons are short, cockles lie just beneath the sandy surface or even on top, visible in shallow water.

Remember that to collect cockles and other bivalves like clams you need a Shellfish License from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. And to make sure they’re safe to eat you should always check the Shellfish Safety Toll-free Hotline before you dig for dinner.