Florida Fire Crews Called To Rescue Pet Iguana Stuck In Tree

It's certainly a change from cats.

Firefighters often rescue cats stuck in trees. Occasionally they save enormous dogs, young children or women from high branches. But a pet iguana? This could be a first.

Firefighters from Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the unusual call in Poinciana, Florida, earlier this month.

It's unclear how the creature ended up stuck in the tree, but photographs posted online showed how firefighter Justin Mazzotta climbed onto a fire engine's extended ladder to capture the lizard. Lt. Scott Huff and driver engineer Matt Sleik assisted in the rescue from the ground.

"We serve the people of Polk County in many ways," the department wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

The identity of the animal's owner has not been released. It's also unknown what species the iguana was. If it was a green, or common, iguana, then the owner may not have had much cause for worry.

According to National Geographic, in the wild such lizards spend most of their lives in rain forest canopy and "are tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet and survive."

The Huffington Post has reached out for more information.

Green, or common, iguanas (such as this one pictured) can reportedly survive a 40 foot fall.
Green, or common, iguanas (such as this one pictured) can reportedly survive a 40 foot fall.
Che_Tina_Plant via Getty Images

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