Two business owners in St. Pete Beach, Florida, have been charged with third-degree felonies for allegedly scattering approximately 1,500 toxic mothballs across a beach area to deter an imperiled bird species, the black skimmer, 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 responded, removing about 1,000 mothballs from the sand.

Investigators, using video surveillance and receipt records, discovered that one of the accused, Czyszczon, spent about $60 purchasing a large quantity of mothballs at a Walmart the day before they appeared on the beach. Upon examining his phone, further evidence was gathered.

An FWC official warned that as few as 30 mothballs "can wipe out a colony if those young birds haven't fledged yet." The black skimmers were attempting to establish a nesting colony in the area, raising concerns among wildlife officials and the community.

If convicted, the two business owners could face up to five years in prison, fines up to $5,000, and up to five years of probation.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between local businesses and conservation efforts to protect endangered species in Pinellas County, Florida.

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