VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Volusia Turtle Patrol says sea turtle rescues are up this year after a February cold snap left many turtles weak and struggling along Florida beaches.

One volunteer said they rescued 20 sea turtles in just a few days. With easter weekend crowds expected on the beaches, rescuers are reminding beachgoers of what to watch for and how to help.

“They’ve been out in the waters, and they’re just so tired and exhausted,” volunteer Lynn Black told ClickOrlando. “When they wash up, they don’t have the energy to swim back out.”

The extreme cold snap in early February stunned many sea turtles along the Florida coast, leaving them sick, weak, and sometimes entangled in seaweed when found on the shoreline.

“They’re not eating as much, they don’t have the strength they had, so when they wash up, we ask people not to touch them,” Black said. “Instead, call for help, and a volunteer or a rescuer will come get them.”

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In the past two months, Black has rescued nine turtles — a sharp increase over the typical one or two this time of year — taking them to the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet.

There, each turtle undergoes a full examination to determine whether it can be rehabilitated.

Animal Care Technician Lindsey Borroto says the center has taken in 157 turtles since January, more than in the same period in recent years. “We usually see juveniles or hatchlings,” Borroto said, “but right now we have three sub-adults in our care, each weighing over 100 pounds.”

At the center, turtles are tested in pools to assess their strength. Some require additional support before they are ready to swim again.

Borroto said the unusual numbers may be due to turtles already weakened by other factors, now coming ashore as a result of the cold snap.

If you see a turtle in distress, Borroto advises alerting a lifeguard, calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), or dialing STAR-FWC on your cell phone.

“I’m here,” Black added. “If a turtle needs help, we’ll get to them.”