Two business owners in St. Pete Beach, Florida, have been charged with third-degree felonies for allegedly scattering about 1,500 toxic mothballs on a beach to deter an imperiled bird species from nesting there.

The incident began in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white sand behind the Plaza Beach Hotel. Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and volunteers from the Audubon Society removed approximately 1,000 mothballs from the area.

Investigators, using video surveillance and receipt records, found that one of the accused, Czyszczon, spent about $60 purchasing a large quantity of mothballs at a Walmart the day before the mothballs appeared on the beach, according to FWC officials.

The black skimmer, an endangered bird species attempting to establish a nesting colony, is vulnerable to such interference. An FWC official stated that 30 mothballs "can wipe out a colony if those young birds haven't fledged yet."

If convicted, the business owners could face up to five years in prison, fines up to $5,000, and up to five years of probation. Law enforcement served search warrants and continues to investigate, expressing concern for the birds and the community impact.

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