Florida wildlife officials say two St. Pete Beach business owners deliberately scattered roughly 1,500 mothballs across a stretch of sand where protected black skimmers were trying to nest, and investigators say text messages between the men helped show that the placement was meant to drive the birds away.
Tampa Bay 28 reporter Haley Zarcone said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested 47-year-old Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, and 52-year-old Christopher Monroe, owner of Chris’s Beachside Bar, after a months-long investigation into the unusual discovery.
Both men were arrested on felony commercial littering charges and misdemeanor counts of attempted take of a state-listed imperiled species by harassment, while FWC said no birds were ultimately injured.
More Than 1,000 Mothballs Were Found Near the Hotel
According to Zarcone’s report, the first large batch of mothballs was discovered on April 20 near the Plaza Beach Hotel, where officers found more than 1,000 scattered across the beach.
Another roughly 500 were found in the same area the following day.
FWC said the location was important because black skimmers, a protected shorebird species, were attempting to establish a nesting colony there at the time.
Investigators did not believe the mothballs had washed ashore or appeared by accident.
Instead, they began looking at nearby businesses, purchases, and communications to determine who had placed them there and why.
Matthew Dallarosa of FWC told Tampa Bay 28 that investigators eventually found what they believed was clear evidence of an effort to deter the birds.
“There was a clear intent that we could tell when it came to deterrence,” Dallarosa said.
Investigators Say the Men Worried About Losing Beach Access
FWC said text messages between the suspects helped explain the alleged motive.
One message, read during Zarcone’s report, referred to the financial impact the birds could have if a nesting area forced part of the beach to be closed off.
“Why didn’t you tell me? We lose 25 to $50,000,” one message said, according to the report.
Another complained that black skimmers were “the worst birds” because wildlife officials or conservation groups could fence off nesting areas and limit the ability of beachgoers to move through that section of sand.
That concern appears to have centered on access in front of the businesses.
If nesting birds caused part of the beach to be roped off, hotel guests and bar customers might have had a harder time reaching the water or moving along the shoreline.
The financial frustration described in those messages does not by itself prove a crime, but investigators say it became significant when combined with the timing and placement of the mothballs.
A $60 Purchase Became Part of the Case
Zarcone reported that investigators traced a purchase of about $60 worth of mothballs to Czyszczon shortly before they began appearing on the beach.
FWC also said Monroe was present in the area on both nights connected to the incidents.
Mothballs contain pesticides intended for use in enclosed storage spaces, not as outdoor wildlife deterrents, and officials said using them on the beach was illegal.
That made the alleged tactic especially unusual.
Rather than simply disturbing the birds directly, investigators say the men used a common household product in an outdoor environment where it could have affected wildlife and the surrounding habitat.
The case is a reminder that products that seem harmless in a closet or storage bin can become an environmental problem when used in ways they were never designed for.
Black Skimmers Had Been Trying to Nest There
FWC said the affected stretch of beach was being used by black skimmers attempting to establish a nesting colony.
Although none of the birds were harmed, wildlife officials said harassment can still cause problems by delaying nesting, pushing breeding later into the season, or forcing birds to relocate.
Zarcone reported that the birds eventually moved farther down the beach.
Volunteers and concerned beachgoers helped remove the mothballs before investigators documented any direct injury to the birds.
That prevented the incident from becoming even worse, but FWC still treated the alleged attempt to drive the birds away as serious.
The fact that no birds died does not necessarily erase the underlying conduct if prosecutors can prove that the purpose was to interfere with a protected species.
Beachgoers Reacted With Anger
People interviewed near the businesses were openly critical of the allegations.
True Khan told Tampa Bay 28 that birds are part of what makes visiting the beach enjoyable and said he believed whoever placed the mothballs thought they would get away with it.
“These birds are what makes the beach experience,” Khan said.
Another beachgoer, Basma Oscar, offered a more direct warning.
“If you mess with Mother Nature, Mother Nature will come back to you,” she said.
A third person interviewed near the businesses said the owners should take their businesses elsewhere if they could not coexist with the wildlife around them.
Those reactions reflect a broader tension that often develops in heavily visited coastal communities, where tourism, business interests, wildlife protection, and public access all compete for the same limited space.
The Charges Are Serious, but the Case Is Still Alleged
Czyszczon and Monroe were arrested on July 29 and charged with felony commercial littering and misdemeanor attempted take of a state-listed imperiled species by harassment.
Those charges are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
FWC says, however, that its investigation included purchase records, the location of the mothballs, the presence of the suspects near the site, and text messages discussing the birds and their impact on business.
The agency’s position is that this was not an accidental spill or a misunderstanding.
Investigators believe the mothballs were intentionally placed to discourage black skimmers from nesting in front of the hotel and bar.
No Birds Were Hurt, but the Beach Was Still Changed
Zarcone closed her report by noting that the birds were still nearby, only farther down the beach.
That outcome may be the best part of an otherwise troubling case.
No black skimmers were killed, and the mothballs were removed before officials documented direct harm, but the incident still shows how quickly a conflict over beach access can become an environmental enforcement case.
If FWC’s allegations are proven, the men were not simply complaining about wildlife affecting their businesses. Investigators say they took deliberate action to make the nesting area less usable.
For a beach community built partly around the appeal of the natural shoreline, that is a striking contradiction.
The businesses depended on people wanting to be near the water, yet FWC says the owners tried to remove one of the very things that makes that coastline feel alive.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
