Thousands of dead, dying starfish washing ashore across the U.S. Gulf coast

© CBS4
Dead Brittle Stars, also called Spider
Starfish, have been washing ashore
beaches from Florida
Panhandle to Alabama.

Sott.net | Apr 2, 2014 | Source

Beaches across the Gulf coast, including the Florida Panhandle, are getting the star treatment as thousands of starfish drift ashore.

Most of them, dead or dying, are washing up on beaches from Perdido Key, Florida in Pensacola to Alabama.

The majority are brittle stars, also called spider starfish, and they are very common in waters around the world.

"This is very rare, I have lived here all my life and I have never seen them like this," said beachgoer Charlotte Phillips.

Marine experts said rough surf caused by recent storms may have pushed the starfish over the sandbars and onto the beach.

Tidal pools hold most of what's left.