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People returning from vacation often arrive home with some unusual souvenirs, but a Foster City woman returning from Cancun, Mexico, never intended for this little memento to end up in her suitcase.
While unpacking, the woman found a baby spiny-tailed iguana hiding in her bikini bra. The iguana, which can grow up to 5 feet long, apparently took refuge in the suit when the woman hung her bikini to dry on her hotel room balcony. She didn’t see it when she packed the next day.
After getting over the initial shock, she immediately brought the animal to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. Officials there then checked with state and federal regulators.
Because it was a wild animal that self-imported to California, Buffy Martin Tarbox, the society’s communications manager, said the group contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Department of Agriculture to determine the best course of action with this iguana.
“We were advised that no mandatory quarantine was necessary and he didn’t need to be returned to Mexico,” Tarbox said.
The iguana was treated for dehydration, and the woman then took it to an animal sanctuary that specializes in such reptiles.
Spiny-tailed iguanas are native to Mexico and Central America. They are not a threatened species and are a common sight in Mexico. They can range in size from 10 inches to 5 feet, and they live an average of 15 to 25 years.
It’s common for animals to accidentally stow away in camping gear and clothing, so Peninsula Humane recommends recommends carefully shaking out gear and clothing before packing to avoid inadvertently transporting animals from their native areas.
