DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Staff members at Volusia County’s Marine Science Center have treated almost as many sick sea turtles this year as they did all of last year.

Wildlife officials said an extended period of cold weather is one possible theory. In fact, they say higher numbers of stranded sea turtles have been found on beaches from central Florida to southern Georgia. Many are chronically ill and suffer from a variety of infections.