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Marco Island, FL - As grocery prices continue to rise, one Florida hunter is offering an unconventional alternative to chicken eggs—iguana eggs.
John Johnson, who runs Down Goes Iguana, a business focused on removing South Florida’s booming iguana population, insists that iguana eggs are just as good as chicken eggs.
In fact, he claims there’s virtually no difference in taste.
"It's all yolk," Johnson explained while preparing a batch for cooking.
Curious to put the claim to the test, WBBH reporter Ryan Arbogast visited Johnson’s kitchen, where the hunter-turned-chef scrambled iguana eggs and cooked them into an omelet with onions and peppers.
"It doesn’t smell like anything," Arbogast observed before trying it.
"It doesn’t taste like anything—just like a regular omelet."
Johnson stood by his claim. "It tastes like eggs because they are eggs," he said.
While the thought of eating iguana eggs may seem unusual, Johnson views them as a sustainable food source, particularly as South Florida struggles with an exploding iguana population.
These reptiles, classified as an invasive species, have caused significant ecological and structural damage, prompting removal efforts across the region.
For those looking beyond chicken eggs, other alternatives have gained popularity as well.
In Port St. Lucie, a local business has reported an increased demand for quail eggs, which offer a nutrient-rich substitute for traditional eggs amid fluctuating food costs.