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Hundreds of Mothballs Found on St Pete Beach, FWC Investigating
Officials say the toxic balls are illegal outdoors and can trigger fines up to $10,000 per violation.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, joined by volunteers from the Audubon Society, removed hundreds of mothballs from Pete Beach near the Lido Residences on Gulf Boulevard on Monday.
- FWC Officer Specialist Brian Ferguson believes someone placed the toxic items to deter protected skimmers before nesting season, though the birds remained undeterred, settling inches from them.
- "If those skimmers or the seagulls thought that was an egg and wanted to eat the egg, or a grandkid picked it up and thought it was a certain candy, it could have very serious consequences," Officer Ferguson said.
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services wrote that "violators may be subject to administrative action, which includes fines up to $10,000 per violation"; investigators now seek the responsible party.
- "Since they're considered a form of poison, they're highly regulated, and it's toxic," Officer Ferguson said, noting the Environmental Protection Agency restricts mothballs to indoor use only.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Mothballs found scattered at St. Pete Beach nesting site one week before protected birds arrive
Environmental advocates are raising alarms after what they call a deliberate act of sabotage at a key shorebird nesting site, just days before the protected birds are expected to arrive to nest.
Hundreds of mothballs found on St Pete Beach, FWC investigating
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Hundreds of mothballs have been found from the dunes to the water on St. Pete Beach, and no one is sure why. "They're all over the beach, it's crazy," said local Sandy Denton, who was on the beach Tuesday picking up one after another. Some are more hidden than [...]
Volunteers clean up toxic mothballs left on St. Pete Beach
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking people to help report mothballs along our beaches.On Monday, officers with the FWC found the toxic balls on St. Pete Beach."Unbelievably frustratingsomebody should pay," said Sandy Denton, who volunteered to clean up the mothballs.WATCH: Volunteers clean up toxic mothballs left on St. Pete Beach Volunteers clean up toxic mothballs left on St. Pete BeachTampa Bay 28 caught up with Sa…
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