Sea creatures wash ashore SWFL beaches by the thousands

SANIBEL, Fla.- Piles of sea creatures, like sea urchins and starfish, are lining the Sanibel shoreline.

Holly Milbrandt, an environmental biologist with the City of Sanibel, says high winds and surf shook up the Gulf floor, sending the creatures onto the sand across Southwest Florida beaches.

“This is really a once in a lifetime opportunity, it’s just fantastic,” said visitor Shari Silber.

Of the thousands of sea creatures that washed up, some were alive, but most were dead. Milbrandt says by the time the starfish and sea urchins reach the shore, they are extremely stressed.

“No harm in people trying to return them back in the water, but a lot of organisms are going to perish on the beach,” said Milbrandt.

“I think it’s phenomenal, we were just shocked when we came down here,” said Silber.

Milbrandt says it’s not uncommon, the recent storms pushed the sea animals on the sand.

“I think the storms for the last week or so have been on the extreme side, so the wash ups have been bigger than the ones we have seen recently,” said Milbrandt.

“It’s just part of life, it’s just shocking to see so much at one time,” said Jerry Stanton.

As far as cleanup on Sanibel goes, Milbrandt says they will just let nature run its course. The tide will take the sea creatures back into the water and birds will feed off of what’s on shore.