Florida business owners allegedly scattered 1,500 mothballs on beach to send endangered birds packing
Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after allegedly spreading about 1,500 "toxic" mothballs across a beach in hopes of keeping an "imperiled" bird species from nesting there.If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years of probation.The problem started in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white, sugary sand on St. Petersburg, Florida.Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and bird-loving volunteers from the Audubon Society mobilized.
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Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after allegedly spreading about 1,500 "toxic" mothballs across a beach in hopes of keeping an "imperiled" bird species from nesting there.If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years of probation.The problem started in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white, sugary sand on St. Petersburg, Florida.Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and bird-loving volunteers from the Audubon Society mobilized. They plucked about 1,000 of the small, white orbs from the sand behind the Plaza Beach Hotel.MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOWNERS STUNNED AFTER TOWN WARNS JULY 4 FLAGS THREATEN ENDANGERED BIRDSThen 500 more appeared overnight.The smelly balls containing pesticides dotted an area where endangered shorebirds known as black skimmers were "attempting to establish a nesting colony," FWC officials said in a news conference. Their placement also meant other wildlife and children "could easily come in contact with them."It quickly became clear that someone might be targeting the birds, they said.So FWC investigators flew into action.Meanwhile, the discovery of the mothballs ruffled feathers in the community.There was "a lot of public outcry" expressing concern for the birds, while investigators tried to locate the source of the mothballs, FWC officials said.Law enforcement served search warrants, combed through "terabytes" of data and eventually seized cellphones to try to locate the individuals behind the caper.That work led them to Christopher Monroe, owner and manager of Chris’s Beachside Bar, and Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, FWC officials said.Out of fear of lost revenue, the two allegedly hatched a plan to use mothballs to deter birds from congregating on the beach behind their businesses, authorities said.HIKERS FACE $25,000 FINE AFTER OFF-LEASH DOG BARKED AT GRIZZLY BEAR ON BANFF NATIONAL PARK TRAILThrough video surveillance and receipt records, investigators found that Czyszczon spent about $60 buying "a large quantity" of mothballs at a Walmart the day before they first appeared on the beach, FWC officials said.Upon examining his phone, investigators found "incriminating" text messages between him and fellow business owner, Monroe, discussing their objections to the native fowl.Text conversations revealed plans for placement of the mothballs on the beach, officials said.
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- Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after allegedly spreading about 1,500 "toxic" mothballs across a beach in hopes of keeping an "imperiled" bird species from nesting there.If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years of probation.The problem started in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white, sugary sand on St. Petersburg, Florida.Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and bird-loving volunteers from the Audubon Society mobilized.
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Florida business owners allegedly scattered 1,500 mothballs on beach to send endangered birds packing
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