Thousands Of Dead Starfish Wash Up Along Panhandle Beaches

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PORT ST. JOE, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) -- After thousands of starfish were spotted washed up along a Gulf County shoreline, wildlife officials are blaming cold weather, storms and high tides.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports residents in Port St. Joe and visitors to Cape San Blas have been reporting and taking photos and video of stranded starfish for several weeks.

Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesman Frank McCloy says the starfish congregate in masses during cold weather and the high tides or storms wash them ashore.

Temperatures in the Florida Panhandle have dipped below 30 degrees recently.

Check out a couple of beach-goer videos and see for yourself:

The dead starfish stretch up and down the beach.

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