STAFFORD, Va. — A Stafford County resident got an unexpected surprise on Saturday afternoon when they found a large lizard wandering in their backyard.
Deputy O.J. Martins responded to the scene on Phillips Street around 5:30 p.m., where the homeowner had already captured the reptile. According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the lizard, identified as a tegu, is native to Central and South America.
The tegu, nicknamed “Dwayne ‘the Croc’ Johnson” by the sheriff’s office, is now being housed at the county animal shelter, awaiting its owner to come forward.
The sheriff’s office shared the incident on social media, with a lighthearted message referencing the popular film Jurassic Park and noting that while the tegu is not a crocodile, the nickname stuck.
No further details about how the lizard ended up in the backyard have been released.
