A package collection at one FedEx store in Tennessee took an unexpected turn when a 6-foot iguana burst out as the box was opened.
Footage from the Memphis location shows the reptile getting behind the counter and briefly disrupting the pickup.
Here's what to know
According to WAPT, Roderick Duncan, a pet owner, went to a Memphis FedEx location on July 17 to receive his new iguana. When the package was opened, the animal, Titan, sprang out and had to be brought under control before Duncan could take it home.
Duncan had expected the overnight shipment to leave Titan lethargic. Because the iguana had been transported in a chilled container, he thought it would be sluggish inside the box.
In the caption of the footage posted to Duncan's Instagram page, he wrote, "I was expecting him to be stiff for a minute like most reptiles after shipping… Nope. Titan came out ready for ALL the smoke."
He added, "Nobody got hurt, everybody ended up laughing, and shout out to the FedEx workers, they handled it like champs!... Welcome to the family, Titan!"
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Commenters joined in on the laughter, with some questioning Duncan's decision-making. One wrote, "Now why in God's green Earth would he release this dragon like that in there?"
Another joked that "The[y're] gonna change their policy by the end of the day [to] 'Do not open any packages inside of the store.' Auntie finna retire by the end of the week."
One user wrote, "Thank goodness I'm working from home today because my laugh was out of order for the office."
More background
Shipping live animals can be unpredictable, even when the logistics are arranged in advance. Temperature, stress, confinement, and the sudden shift from a dark container to a busy public space can all make an animal's behavior difficult to anticipate.
That is especially true in public-facing businesses, where workers may have little or no preparation for handling an escaped animal. Thankfully, in this case, Titan was eventually secured.
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