Riverside County Couple Adopts Bearded Dragon Found In Package

HEMET, CA -- A Hemet couple who discovered a bearded dragon in a Walmart package delivered to them decided to adopt the scaly critter, Riverside County officials announced Tuesday. The dragon was discovered earlier this month when Al and Chris Brummett received a bicycle they ordered from the national chain store.

Al Brummett said he pulled out the frame and other parts from the box then found the male critter staring back at him.

“At first I freaked out because he was so big,” Brummett said. “Here was this massive lizard looking over
his shoulder at me.” His reaction was almost a cartoonish, double take. “There he was, and he had this look,
such as ‘what the heck just happened?’” he said. “And I’m thinking, ‘yeah, me too.’”

Al Brummett placed a painter's bucket over the lizard before contacting Riverside County Animal Services, which took the animal, officials said.

However, the couple decided to adopt the bearded dragon days later, officials said.

The couple have since named the animal Falkor, after the dragon from "The NeverEnding Story."

Officials said bearded dragons enjoy small insects, such as crickets, but also enjoy a steady diet of fruits and vegetables.

--Photo courtesy of Riverside County Department of Animal Services