Mr Lizard, as the bearded dragon was nicknamed, was rescued by Riverside County Animal Services.
A California couple that ordered a bicycle online found a surprise inside the package when it arrived - a bearded dragon lizard. Al Brummett and Chris Brummett, who live near Hemet, bought the bicycle from Walmart as a gift for their granddaughter. While unpacking the bicycle, they found the unwelcome stowaway inside. The incident took place on June 6.
According to Riverside County Animal Services, Mr Brummett made the startling discovery while getting ready to assemble the bicycle.
"Here was this massive lizard looking over his shoulder at me," he said. "At first I freaked out because he was so big."
According to Mr Brummett, the critter seemed as confused as he himself was. "He had this look, such as 'what the heck just happened?'" he said. "And I'm thinking, 'yeah, me too.'"
Animal Services officers responded to their call and identified the lizard as a bearded dragon, an Australian species legal to be kept as pets in California.
The bearded dragon, nicknamed Mr Lizard, was then transported by a Riverside County Animal Services officer to San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus and fed peaches to give it some much-needed nourishment.
Mr Lizard will now be transported to one of Riverside County's exotic rescue partner organisations.
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