A cluster of mature sea stars discovered last week near Paradise Cove came as a surprise to the family who came upon them, and to other longtime residents who say they’ve never seen a group of large ones here.
A federal biologist in Juneau said the species, known as mottled stars (Evasterias troscheli) are common in protected waters of Southeast, but maybe not so much around Haines. Also, springtime events, including extreme tides and spawning,…