PONCE INLET, Fla. – Volunteers in Volusia County are sounding the alarm after a dramatic spike in stranded sea turtles washing ashore — and they need the public’s help. Volunteers with Volusia Turtle Patrol say they have rescued more than 20 sea turtles in just the last few days — far more than they typically see this time of year.

With busy holiday crowds expected on the beach, they say there are several things beachgoers can look out for. A brutal cold snap in early February is believed to have cold-stunned many species along the coast, leaving them weak and disoriented. If you spot a sea turtle you believe needs help, do not touch it. Instead, flag down a lifeguard, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or dial *FWC from your cell phone.