TALLAHASSEE — State wildlife and health officials warned Wednesday against eating too many frog legs if they come from frogs caught in the state-controlled parts of the Everglades in western Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
A two-night harvest of some 150 pig frogs from the Everglades and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area showed that the frogs had elevated mercury levels. While in the past state officials have warned against eating types of fish or shellfish high in mercury, this marks the first time the warning has been extended to other wildlife.
The main warning is for women of childbearing age and young children. ''The main concern is about a developing fetus,'' said Dr. Joe Serkeke, a toxicologist with the Department of Health. Ted Lange, a biologist and researcher with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the state did not test the levels of mercury of pig frogs outside of state parks.
Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com.