An animal rescue team was dispatched to Thurso after a woman spotted what appeared to be a giant lizard stuck in a tree.
But the stranded creature turned out to be realistic looking stuffed toy iguana which had been nailed to a tree near Miller Academy in Thurso. The unsuspecting passer-by even thought she saw it blink and eye.
Inspectors from the Scottish SPCA were called out after a woman reported that the lizard seemed to be stuck in the upper branches.
Senior Inspector Audrey Gunn said: “The woman was shocked when I told her it wasn’t a real iguana as she thought she’d seen it blink.
“I think someone must have nailed the toy to the tree as a joke and I can see why it fooled her.
“My colleague Mandy McIntyre, who works at our animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balmore, is a reptile enthusiast and she’s decided to offer the wee chap a loving home.
“It was a nice surprise to find there wasn’t an animal in danger in this case and I must admit it gave Mandy and I a bit of a giggle.
“Although this incident turned out to be a false alarm, we’d always encourage people to give us a call if they think an animal is in need of help.”
Anyone who finds an animal in danger or distress should call the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.