How a drifting barrel of eggs may have launched a Marin empire.

A year ago, eggs were scarce and prices were sky-high. But avian flu took a much smaller toll on America's egg-laying chickens this winter than last, and egg prices have tumbled 42%.

These wetlands, these alligators … it has to have some kind of monetary value,” said George Melancon, alligator research biologist for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.