ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A bright-beaked bird had onlookers doing a double-take in Orlando.<\/p>\n
Alondra Gonzalez, who works at Dermi Wax Center on Conroy Windermere Road in Orlando, told News 6 she saw a toucan outside the salon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are literally on Conroy Windermere Road, and there\u2019s a toucan,\u201d Gonzalez can be overheard saying in one of the videos. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was at a loss for words. I didn\u2019t think I would see one ever in my life,\u201d Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n
Gonzalez spotted the toucan perched in a wooded area behind the salon and said she was able to get surprisingly close.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, actually, I was, and it didn\u2019t fly away. It did not,\u201d she said. \u201cI think it was somebody\u2019s pet…it seemed a little afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n
She quickly snapped photos and videos and shared them in local community groups. The posts were soon reshared by bird sanctuaries and wildlife rescue organizations.<\/p>\n
Gonzalez says she hasn\u2019t seen the toucan since \u2014 and hopes it\u2019s rescued soon.<\/p>\n
It was not immediately clear where the toucan came from. Toucans are native to tropical rainforests and Neotropical regions of Central and South America.<\/p>\n
Liz Lucassian is the Animal Care Supervisor of the Bird Department at ZooTampa and says after working with toucans in the past, it\u2019s best to keep a close eye on them to prevent them from getting loose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you do happen to have a toucan, you should probably be keeping it indoors or in a secure facility,\u201d said Lucassian.<\/p>\n
Lucassian says toucans primarily eat fruit but can also forage for small prey like lizards and worms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt depends on how domesticated it is,\u201d Lucassian said when asked whether a pet toucan could survive in the wild. \u201cSometimes they still have the natural ability to find their own food.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Florida\u2019s warm climate may not be a problem for the tropical bird, wildlife experts urge anyone who spots a nonnative species to report it to professionals.<\/p>\n
Credible reports <\/a>should include:<\/p>\n A clear, non-blurry photo that can be enlarged for ID<\/p>\n The exact location (GPS coordinates are best, but a street address or detailed description will do)<\/p>\n The date the animal was seen<\/p>\n Sightings of nonnative species can be reported using the free IveGot1 app, available for iPhone and Android, or via the web form at IveGot1.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also call the FWC\u2019s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1<\/a>(483-4681) to report nonnative animals.<\/p>\n