Florida Hotel Owner, Bar Manager Allegedly Mothballed Beach To Chase Away Protected Birds

A Florida hotel owner and bar manager are facing charges for allegedly spreading thousands of mothballs on the beach to deter protected birds from nesting on the property, wildlife officials said, according to WFLA.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the arrests at a press conference on Wednesday, bringing closure to an investigation that began in St. Pete Beach in April and led to “a lot of public outcry.”

Plaza Beach Hotel owner Robert Czyszczon and the manager of a bar on the property, Christopher Monroe, were each arrested and charged with commercial littering for purpose of economic gain and harassing a protected species.

On April 20, more than 1,000 mothballs found scattered on the beach behind the hotel were cleaned up by wildlife officers and volunteers, but the next day, hundreds more mothballs appeared in the same place.

Mothballs are a hazard to both humans and wildlife, officials said. While the fumes can be toxic to humans, they can be very poisonous to animals who consume them.

FWC investigators said they found “incriminating text messages” between Czyszczon and Monroe indicating they disliked the black skimmers nesting on the property and intended to use mothballs to chase them away. Officers read multiple such messages at the press conference.

“They’re the worst birds. And then the bird people will put up a fence around the area, and then the beach people will not be able to get to and from because they will fence around that space,” one message allegedly read.

“Why didn’t you tell me we lose $25,000 to $50,000,” when the birds are on the beach, another message allegedly read.

Investigators say phone records place both men on that area of the beach on both nights the mothballs were spread, and Walmart receipts show they purchased a large quantity of mothballs.

Black skimmers are a protected species in Florida, and according to FWC, only around 6,800 of the birds remain statewide. Hundreds of those nest in Pinellas County. Wildlife officials said harassing the birds away from the nesting site delays the date their young can fledge, leaving them vulnerable to stronger storms later in hurricane season.

“The City of St. Pete Beach has zero tolerance for criminal activity in our community, particularly conduct that has any potential to threaten the health and safety of our residents and visitors or harm our wildlife and natural environment,” city officials said in a statement Wednesday.

“Our beaches are among our community’s greatest treasures and protecting them is a shared responsibility,” city officials said. “We are grateful to the FWC for its thorough investigation and continued efforts to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. We also appreciate the incredible cooperation of our residents, visitors, and community partners who helped bring attention to this matter and clean up the mothballs before irreparable harm could be done.”

On Wednesday night, after Czyszczon bonded out of jail, he indicated to WFLA that he plans to fight the charges.

“I did not do it and I’m innocent. Simple as that,” he told the outlet.