Would Louisiana Residents Ever Consider Iguana Eggs for Breakfast?

In Louisiana, we eat just about anything, and this practice is something we are known for, but do you think you would consider eating iguana eggs?

Louisianians are known to live off the land so they don't go hungry, and with egg prices today, we might be able to learn something from a man in Florida who makes his omelets with a totally different kind of egg.

The Cost Of Eggs

When most of us think about having an omelette or two eggs over easy, we think of eggs from chickens. With a dozen eggs going for around $4.97 at one big-box retailer and $5.99 for delivery from a Louisiana supermarket chain, we are still spending way more than we did last year.

According to the US Inflation Calculator, we paid much less for eggs in the past few years. The average price for a dozen large eggs in 2024 was $3.17, and it was only $2.80 in 2023. Prices have shot up, on average, about 25 percent in the last 18 months.

It costs most of us a small fortune to get eggs for our families to eat. With Easter on the way, how are we going to pacques eggs if the eggs are so expensive?

What Are Others Doing To Combat Prices?

A man in Florida is doing something unconventional. The state of Florida has a problem with an invasive species of iguanas. The state actually permits people to trap and get rid of them.

John Johnson has a company that does exactly that, but in addition to getting rid of the invasive species, he also does a little "harvesting" of iguana eggs. He has no shame about taking the iguana eggs and eating them.

It sounds like something we would do in Louisiana! It even looks good! Check this out:

We might need to take a page out of Jim Johnson's notebook when eating strange things. A dozen chicken eggs average about $5-$6.

We eat frog legs and turtle soup in Louisiana, so iguana eggs aren't so far-fetched. However, it would have to be done very carefully because iguanas are an invasive species in Florida.

Johnson's company, Down Goes Iguanas, helps homeowners and business owners on Marco Island eliminate the problem.

Louisiana Doesn't Need An Iguana Problem!

According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials, some reptiles like the Argentine black and white tegu have invaded Georgia. Why does that matter?

People on the other side of the issue say that the tegu couldn't survive in Louisiana anyway because it's too cold.

Here is what Kerri Lejeune, the State Herpetologist, sent to KATC when they were asking about a ban,

One tropical species on the list, the Argentine black and white tegu, is already established in the wild and reproducing in Georgia and has been documented in multiple counties in South Carolina. Both of those states experience a colder climate than Louisiana and therefore these species would be able to survive our mild Louisiana winters.

So, the big question in all of this, is what would you do? If we had an abundance of iguanas in the state, do you think you would trap them for their eggs?

Check out this video:

Is this the next delicacy in Louisiana?