Florida business owners allegedly scattered 1,500 mothballs on beach to send endangered birds packing

Two Florida business owners have been charged with third-degree felonies after allegedly spreading about 1,500 "toxic" mothballs across a beach in hopes of keeping an "imperiled" bird species from nesting there.

If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and up to five years of probation.

The problem started in late April when beachgoers noticed mothballs on the white, sugary sand on St. Pete Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Officers...