Two Florida Business Owners Charged After Dumping Mothballs on Beach to Deter Endangered Birds

Authorities in Florida have filed third-degree felony charges against two business operators accused of scattering approximately 1,500 mothballs across St. Pete Beach in an attempt to prevent an endangered shorebird species from establishing a nesting site. Christopher Monroe, who operates Chris’s Beachside Bar, and Robert Czyszczon, proprietor of the Plaza Beach Hotel, each face potential sentences of up to five years imprisonment, monetary penalties up to $5,000, and five years of supervised probation if convicted.

The discovery began in late April when beachgoers spotted mothballs covering the sand at the St. Petersburg location. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and volunteers from the Audubon Society initially recovered approximately 1,000 of the pesticide-containing spheres from the area behind the hotel, only to find 500 additional mothballs deposited overnight in the same vicinity.

The affected area served as a nesting ground for black skimmers, an imperiled species that creates ground depressions in beach sand for their eggs rather than building traditional nests. Authorities determined that the placement of toxic mothballs posed risks to the birds, other wildlife, and beachgoing children who could contact the hazardous material.

Investigators conducted an extensive search that included video surveillance analysis and financial records examination. They discovered that Czyszczon purchased a substantial quantity of mothballs from a Walmart location the day before the first batch appeared on the beach.

Cell phone data and text message exchanges between the two men provided crucial evidence of their involvement. The communications revealed discussions about preventing birds from nesting and referenced concerns about lost revenue, with one message indicating anticipated losses between $25,000 and $50,000 during nesting season.

Tower location data confirmed that both men’s phones were present at the same spot on the nights the mothballs materialized on the beach. Monroe and Czyszczon were charged with illegal dumping and attempted harassment of a state-listed imperiled species, with both currently released on bond pending trial.

According to FWC estimates, approximately 6,800 black skimmers inhabit Florida’s coastline, with several hundred residing on Pinellas County beaches. While officials indicated the birds likely sustained no serious injuries, the disruption delayed their nesting cycle, potentially exposing young chicks to late-season hurricane threats if they fail to fledge before November 30.