Hundreds of mothballs scattered along a busy stretch of St. Pete Beach turned a prime Gulf-front spot into a toxic cleanup scene, prompting a rapid response from state wildlife officers and volunteers.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and volunteers pulled the white pellets from the sand in front of the Lido Residences on Gulf Boulevard, where they had been laid out in lines running about 50 yards north and 50 yards south of the condo building. Authorities said the way they were placed created a health risk for people, pets and beach-nesting birds using the shoreline.
According to WTSP, FWC Officer Specialist Brian Ferguson answered an anonymous tip and went to the scene, where he was joined by Audubon Society volunteers and beachgoers who helped hand-pick the pellets from the sand. Ferguson said someone likely put out the mothballs to drive away birds and other wildlife and warned they "could cause very serious consequences if mistaken for eggs or candy." The FWC urged residents to report wildlife concerns through the Wildlife Alert hotline or by submitting a tip at MyFWC Wildlife Alert.
Why mothballs are risky and illegal
Mothballs contain high concentrations of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene and are registered pesticides that the National Pesticide Information Center notes are meant to be used only in sealed, airtight containers. When they are scattered outdoors, the solid pellets slowly turn into toxic vapors that can contaminate sand and water and harm people, pets and wildlife that come into contact with them.
The Environmental Protection Agency has cautioned that misusing fumigant pesticides can create pesticide residues and environmental contamination, and that the directions on product labels spell out what counts as legal use. Putting mothballs directly into the open environment is considered off-label use, which moves it firmly into the misuse category.
Legal consequences
State officials can go after violators for improper pesticide use. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services told WTSP that people who misuse mothballs may face administrative action that can include fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Using mothballs outdoors in a way that is not on the label violates federal pesticide law and can bring civil penalties or other enforcement steps from regulators.
Risk to nesting birds
Beach-nesting birds took on a particular risk from the stunt. The black skimmer is listed as a state-designated Threatened species in Florida, and even small contaminants or disturbances can cause problems for nests during breeding season, according to the FWC. Audubon volunteers who joined the effort to pluck the pellets from the sand said the quick removal cut down an immediate risk that chicks and shorebirds might ingest the mothballs.
