The green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) displays diverse behavioral responses to chemical and tactile stimuli. These responses are often observed as part of its voracious foraging behavior and have been less documented for their covering behavior, which is known to occur during and outside of foraging. Despite widespread knowledge of aggregative foraging, change in urchin behavior in the presence of conspecifics (i.e., in an aggregation), or under cover, is unclear. Studies were conducted to examine two areas: (1) the impact of competitive (=aggregated) versus noncompetitive (=isolated) urchins on foraging behavior and (2) how cover availability impacted that behavior. Sea urchins competing with conspecifics were generally faster at reaching food than isolated ones. When the cover was available, isolated urchins often did not move toward the food item in the time allotted. These results indicate the importance of considering the conspecific environment in urchin behavioral studies, which may have implications for the planning of urchin aquaculture systems.