Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after authorities allege they spread approximately 1,500 mothballs across a beach in St. Petersburg to deter endangered shorebirds from nesting.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that the mothballs were placed behind the Plaza Beach Hotel and Chris’s Beachside Bar, properties owned by Christopher Monroe and Robert Czyszczon, respectively. The substances were discovered in late April on St. Pete Beach, where black skimmers—a species listed as imperiled—were attempting to establish a nesting colony.
Authorities allege deliberate targeting
Investigators with the FWC, alongside volunteers from the Audubon Society, removed about 1,000 mothballs from the sand before an additional 500 were found overnight. The mothballs, which contain pesticides, posed risks to wildlife, children, and other beachgoers, according to FWC officials. Authorities stated the placement of the mothballs suggested an intent to disrupt the birds’ nesting efforts.
Legal consequences and ongoing investigation
If convicted, Monroe and Czyszczon could face up to five years in prison, fines of $5,000, and five years of probation. The FWC executed search warrants, analyzed terabytes of data, and seized cellphones as part of the investigation. Officials did not specify a motive beyond alleging the business owners acted to protect their properties from potential revenue loss due to the birds’ presence.
Community and ecological impact
The discovery of the mothballs prompted public outcry, with many expressing concern for the endangered birds. The black skimmers’ nesting attempts were disrupted, raising questions about the long-term effects on the species’ recovery in the area. The incident has also highlighted tensions between commercial interests and wildlife conservation efforts along Florida’s coastlines.
Background on the species and legal framework
Black skimmers are protected under state and federal regulations due to their declining populations. The use of toxic substances to deter wildlife is prohibited under Florida’s wildlife conservation laws. The FWC has not provided further details on the birds’ current nesting status following the removal of the mothballs.