Max Chesnes
@maxchesnes.bsky.social
Environment reporter, Tampa Bay Times Instagram 📸 MaxChesnes
NEW: Two beachside business owners were arrested today on felony charges of scattering toxic mothballs around a protected bird colony in front of a St. Pete Beach bar and hotel: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
2 beachfront business owners accused of scattering mothballs on St. Pete Beach to deter birds
The men said in text messages that they believed nesting black skimmers were causing their businesses to lose up to $50,000, wildlife officials said.
tampabay.com
This is an awesome article and very well done.
Max Chesnes@maxchesnes.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe joined scientists on a research expedition last week 100 miles offshore Florida to study the largest fish in the sea It’s rare enough to document one whale shark feeding in the Gulf. On Tuesday, they found 14. Read our story @tampabaytimes.bsky.social: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
We joined scientists on a research expedition last week 100 miles offshore Florida to study the largest fish in the sea It’s rare enough to document one whale shark feeding in the Gulf. On Tuesday, they found 14. Read our story @tampabaytimes.bsky.social: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Offshore Florida’s Gulf Coast, scientists chase the world’s largest fish
We joined an expedition deep into the Gulf after data from a single whale shark led researchers to a gathering hidden offshore.
tampabay.com
For years, a company used a gas known to cause cancer to clean medical tools at a plant in Tampa Bay But the business and regulators who oversaw it didn’t curb emissions for years Now, people who lived close to the site have cancer, and they're suing: www.tampabay.com/investigatio...
A company released toxic gas in Tampa Bay for years. No one stopped it
The plant sterilized medical equipment with ethylene oxide in Temple Terrace. More than a dozen people now blame it for their cancers, and many are suing.
tampabay.com
Florida wildlife officials are trying to determine who scattered hundreds of toxic mothballs Monday across a stretch of St. Pete Beach near a colony of protected black skimmers that had gathered near the dunes. 🌍🌊 @tampabaytimes.bsky.social @maxchesnes.bsky.social www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Hundreds of mothballs scattered on St. Pete Beach. Wildlife officials are investigating
A wildlife officer on the case believes they were placed across the beach to deter protected birds from nesting.
tampabay.com
#Florida’s waters are changing. But for these stone crabbers, the work goes on www.tampabay.com/news/environ... via @maxchesnes.bsky.social
Florida’s waters are changing. But for these stone crabbers, the work goes on
A tight-knit Tampa Bay crabbing community is facing environmental and economic challenges, but the payoff can be as sweet as the meat they harvest.
tampabay.com
The Trump administration wants to open up the eastern Gulf to oil drilling, pushing closer to Florida shores. The pushback is swift, with Gov. DeSantis urging the feds to reconsider thttps://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2025/11/20/oil-drilling-florida-gulf/
Trump administration proposes pushing offshore oil drilling closer to Florida shores
The plan ignited immediate pushback from Florida politicians and the coastal communities they represent.
tampabay.com
Earlier this summer, Floridians felt blindsided by a rushed proposal to trade away 600 acres of pristine wilderness preserve in St. Johns Now, a Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill for more transparency around possible sales of conservation lands www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
After ‘alarming’ Guana land swap idea, Florida lawmaker files bill for more transparency
The measure would give the public more advanced notice when conservation land is being proposed for a sale or swap.
tampabay.com
Many thanks to the journalism of @maxchesnes.bsky.social and the Tampa Bay Times.
I dug a bit into Cabot’s dealings with the Florida gov over state parkland last year. What I read should be a warning to Nova Scotians. In short, secrecy, money and contempt for the public. The post was to inform my local community on fb, but here it is with links: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/37x8c...
dropbox.com
NEW: I’ve interviewed more than a dozen longtime Florida conservation experts, including former regulators who combined have worked under 5 governors All shared concerns with me about the state’s recent purchase of a 4-acre property for $83 million. More: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
‘A sham’: Florida’s longtime conservation experts question pricey 4-acre Destin purchase
When Florida is in urgent need of more conservation land, why were four waterfront acres made the top priority?
tampabay.com
Dr. Jane Goodall was not just a force of nature. She was a fearless and unrelenting champion of it. I had the honor of interviewing Jane in 2023 and 2024. Our conversations were optimistic and future-focused. They always centered on one thing: hope. www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Jane Goodall had a message for Floridians: Work together for nature
The Tampa Bay Times sat down with Dr. Jane Goodall in 2023 and 2024. Her message was always centered on hope.
tampabay.com
NEW: Despite concerns from conservationists and Republican officials, FL leaders just voted to approve a fast-tracked deal to pay a campaign donor $83 million for his companies’ 4 acres of Destin land “Let’s just say I have concerns,” said CFO Ingoglia www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
DeSantis, top Florida officials vote to buy 4 acres for $83M, despite concerns
But one member of the Cabinet objected to the purchase.
tampabay.com
🚨 In today’s Tampa Bay Times: The Florida Cabinet votes Tuesday to buy 4 acres of Destin land for a steep price tag: $83M The land •is not on the state’s conservation priority list •is owned by a large campaign donor Read more here: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Florida’s wildlife agency gave a license to a company to capture a manta ray — a federally designated threatened species — for Sea World in Abu Dhabi. After a video of its capture went viral, a bipartisan collation of lawmakers is calling for a change: www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
After viral video of giant manta ray capture, bipartisan Florida lawmakers want change
The state wildlife agency allowing the capture of a threatened species is “inconsistent with Florida’s own legacy of marine conservation,” the lawmakers wrote.
tampabay.com
Less than four months after #Florida’s state lands director abruptly resigned amid a controversy about the state trading away a wildlife preserve, her replacement is also stepping down. www.tampabay.com/news/environ... via @maxchesnes.bsky.social
Florida director of state lands resigns months after predecessor
The departure marks more turmoil after a year of public lands controversy.
tampabay.com
Popular #Florida campground to close because of hurricane damage & there's talk of selling the land, much to the horror of its many fans. www.tampabay.com/news/environ... via @maxchesnes.bsky.social
Chassahowitzka River campground to close, could be sold
The campground north of Tampa Bay is owned by a state water agency.
tampabay.com
State water managers are considering selling the 40-acre Chassahowitzka River campground, a popular destination for Floridians who want access to winding the spring-fed river www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Chassahowitzka River campground to close, could be sold
The campground north of Tampa Bay is owned by a state water agency.
tampabay.com
A pair of Florida panther kittens — sisters born just a few months ago — were both hit and killed in Naples That brings the statewide panther death total this year to 12. All but one have been caused by car strikes @tampabaytimes.bsky.social www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Endangered Florida panther kittens, born just months ago, hit and killed
Conservation groups said the deaths in Naples underscore the need for more wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity in a rapidly developing state.
tampabay.com
A man shot and killed a bear in his yard. Under a new Florida self-defense law, he won’t face charges. www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
A man shot and killed a bear in his yard. He won’t face charges.
The incident has enraged an Okaloosa County neighborhood. But legal experts say the shooting is justified under a new state law.
tampabay.com
NEW: i spoke to nine (!) scientists across several disciplines whose work was cited in the new Department of Energy report that downplays the severity of climate change. all of them say their work was misrepresented, cherry picked, and/or lacked context —
Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work
A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.
wired.com
In just four hours of marine debris cleanup in Tampa Bay: •50+ abandoned crab traps •Thousands of pounds of plastic •Hundreds of feet of ropes and fishing line
In 2016, Florida’s Big Cypress became the nation’s first “dark sky” preserve, a key designation to help endangered nocturnal species But the leading group that classified the park now says artificial light from Alligator Alcatraz “directly threatens” that www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Darkness is crucial to Everglades habitat. Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it?
Artificial light in a world-renowned “dark sky” preserve is just one of the environmental and human health concerns surrounding the facility.
tampabay.com
82-year-old Clyde Butcher, world-renowned photographer who last year earned a presidential medal for his life’s work documenting the Florida Everglades, joined protests yesterday against the state’s proposed “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center
Fired #Florida state parks whistleblower sues the state over his firing www.tampabay.com/news/environ... via @maxchesnes.bsky.social
Fired Florida state parks whistleblower sues state agency for retaliation
Former Florida Department of Environmental Protection employee James Gaddis claims he was told to keep plans secret.
tampabay.com
Poaching, sweeping habitat loss and dwindling wetlands have plummeted the population of one of Florida’s most beloved flowers Now, U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposes bolstering ghost orchid protections by adding it to the endangered species list www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
Facing extinction, rare Florida swamp flower could get more protections
Federal wildlife officials estimate there are fewer than 1,000 ghost orchids remaining in the United States.
tampabay.com
BREAKING: DeSantis signs bill prohibiting golf, hotels on Florida state parks www.tampabay.com/news/environ...
DeSantis signs bill prohibiting golf, hotels on Florida state parks
The governor had said he would sign it, but it directly challenged a plan pursued by his administration.
tampabay.com
This week marked the 30th story in our series about the DeSantis’ administration’s plans last year to develop state parks with hotels and golf courses All of those stories are now in one place 👇 www.tampabay.com/topics/state...
State Parks saga | Tampa Bay Times
In 2024, the DeSantis administration proposed developing state parks across Florida with golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts and more. The Tampa Bay Times revealed and broke news of the plans, cov...
tampabay.com
BREAKING: The Legislature just delivered a decisive victory to Floridians who treasure their state parks, passing a bill to ban golf courses and hotels in parks The bill heads to the desk of the governor, whose admin’s plans prompted protests last summer
After wanting golf in state parks, DeSantis must now decide on a bill to ban it
The Florida Legislature sent a bill to protect state parks to DeSantis’ desk Thursday, countering his secret plans last summer.
tampabay.com
Congrats @maxchesnes.bsky.social & Emily Mahoney of the @tampabaytimes.bsky.social for winning the Lucy Morgan Award for their #journalism exposing DeSantis administration plan to put hotels, golf courses and sports courts on #Florida parks. Lucy would be proud. www.tampabay.com/news/2025/04....
Tampa Bay Times journalists Max Chesnes, Emily L. Mahoney win Lucy Morgan Prize
Chesnes and Mahoney accepted the award during a newsroom ceremony Wednesday.
tampabay.com