These currents may carry pollution from Europe and even China. The air mass then travels south where the trade winds carry it back across the Atlantic to Florida. Florida panthers are also exposed through the food chain to a variety of pesticides and other compounds with potential harmful effects on health and reproduction. Probable Path of Mercury to the Florida Panther Mercury in rainfall is transformed to methyl mercury by bacteria in sediments and algal mats. Zooplankton feed on algae, and fish and crayfish consume zooplankton.
Raccoons eat fish and crayfish, and panthers eat raccoons.