Marco Island, FL - A Southwest Florida hotel employee is facing charges for intentionally driving a golf cart through a flock of birds, killing five.
JW Marriott employee Renardo Stewart is facing multiple charges after hitting and killing five black skimmers with a golf cart on Marco Island.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Marco Island police department responded to the scene on Monday where the dead skimmers, a protected species in Florida, were found.
Stewart was detained and admitted to driving a golf cart through the flock of the birds that were resting on the beach.
Monday's incident resulted in five misdemeanor charges for violating an endangered or threatened species.
Florida's beaches play a significant role in the survival of black skimmers, who rely on them during breeding season when they need places to rest and gain weight before breeding.
One of the birds killed was tagged and tracked by Dr. Beth Forys from Eckerd College, making Monday's incident an unfortunate loss of valuable data and research, as well as the endangered species.