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Two St. Petersburg business owners stand accused of a stunt that reads more like a badly written sitcom plot than a plan to protect their bottom line: scattering roughly 1,500 mothballs on St. Pete Beach to scare off nesting birds. The state says it was deliberate, dangerous and illegal. The rest of us can only ask: what were they thinking — and what should happen next?
What happened on St. Pete Beach
Officials say Christopher Monroe, who runs a beach bar, and Robert Czyszczon, who owns a nearby hotel, are charged after mothballs turned up where black skimmers were trying to nest. Volunteers and wildlife crews cleaned up hundreds of the pellets after visitors spotted them. Authorities found text messages and phone data that point to the pair. The men say they’re innocent and were bonded out of jail, but they now face serious charges.
Why this matters — birds, toxins, and common sense
Black skimmers are a protected, state-listed species. Nesting birds are fragile and easy to disturb. Mothballs are not harmless beach pebbles; they contain volatile chemicals meant for closets and sealed containers, not open sand and wind. Leaving them on a public beach risks wildlife and people. Even if no birds were physically harmed this time, the idea of using toxic pellets as a “deterrent” is reckless and irresponsible.
The law and the real cost
Florida law treats illegal dumping and harassment of protected species seriously. The charges filed include a third-degree felony for dumping and a misdemeanor for attempted take of an imperiled species. Those are not paper cuts — they carry jail time, fines and probation. Rules protect both the wildlife and the public. Property owners frustrated by nesting season don’t get to take the law into their own hands.
Common-sense solutions, and a call for better local policy
Let’s be blunt: business owners deserve a way to operate without constant conflict. But solutions exist that don’t involve poison. Work with wildlife officials to set clear access paths, use humane deterrents, post signs, or create temporary barriers that both protect nests and let customers get to the sand. Local governments should also step up. If nesting rules are going to affect commerce, officials should fund mitigation, offer clear guidance, and mediate. Vigilante toxic tactics are never the answer.
Accountability matters. If the charges stick, the law should run its course. And if local leaders want to avoid repeats of this theater, they should build real plans that respect nature and business alike. That’s how a community solves problems — not with mothballs and a prayer.
