A baby iguana accidentally made its way across the Mexican border to Foster City.

Authorities say the baby spiny-tailed iguana somehow crawled into a woman’s luggage.

The discovery occurred on Aug. 5 as she returned from a vacation in Cancun. The iguana accidentally hitched a ride in her bikini top.

The woman took the animal to the SPCA immediately. 

“She had put her bathing suit out to dry on the balcony of her hotel room, and the next morning, packed up her belongings in her suitcase,” PHS/SPCA Communications Manager Buffy Martin Tarbox said. “Unbeknownst to her, a baby iguana had decided to nest in her bathing suit and accidentally hitchhiked to California.”

The iguana was eventually taken to an animal sanctuary specializing in reptiles.

Spiny-tailed iguanas are native to Mexico and Central America.

“Since it was a wild animal who self-imported to California, we reached out to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA to determine the best course of action with this iguana,” Tarbox said. “We were advised that no mandatory quarantine was necessary and he didn’t need to be returned to Mexico.  After treating him for dehydration, he was transported to an animal sanctuary which specializes in such reptiles by the woman who found him.”

It’s actually pretty common for animals to stow away in camping gear and clothing.

You should shake out your gear and clothing before packing to avoid taking animals with you home.

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