Uber’s Decade of Oddities: From Live Butterflies to Medical Implants

An ankle monitor, a meat slicer, breast milk, and a package of live butterflies might seem like the punchline to a bad joke, but they are actually among the most peculiar items left behind by riders on Uber. The rideshare giant has released its annual compilation of forgotten objects, revealing a wide array of strange discoveries that have ended up in backseats across the country.

The report, which marks the 10th anniversary of Uber’s Lost & Found Index, categorizes findings by unique items, commonly forgotten belongings, and the "most forgetful" cities. According to the data, New York City holds the title for America’s most forgetful metropolitan area, while Sunday is identified as the day riders are most likely to leave something behind.

In a press release, Uber highlighted how the index has evolved into an "unexpected time capsule" of cultural shifts over the last decade. "From AirPods becoming an everyday essential, to vaccine cards and face masks taking over in 2021, Ozempic making its way into backseats in 2025, and viral Labubu plushies riding shotgun this year, the Lost & Found Index has become an unexpected time capsule of the past decade," the company stated.

As the dominant player in the sector, Uber significantly outpaces competitors like Lyft. A 2024 analysis by Bloomberg Second Measure indicates that Uber controls 76% of the U.S. rideshare market. With such high usage, the volume of lost items is substantial; more than one million phones were reported missing in the past year alone.

Among the highlights from this year’s "50 most unique lost items" list are: * George Washington hospital discharge papers * A textured photograph featuring a rhinestone-encrusted image of Jesus * Two pounds of blue raspberry Gushers * A pair of partial teeth wrapped in a tissue * 20 pounds of duck sausage * Pelvis implants * A child’s prosthetic eye * A group photograph of Donny Osmond

Uber noted that the most prevalent lost items over the past year included vapes, e-cigarettes, LaBuBu dolls, various dental accessories such as gold grills and veneers, and Croc sandals.

The company also provided a historical overview of the most extraordinary item left behind each year since the index began: * 2017: A live lobster * 2018: Divorce papers * 2019: A salmon head * 2020: A lanyard reading "virginity rocks" * 2021: A large painting of Kate Middleton * 2022: 500 grams of caviar * 2023: A toy poodle with a sign that read "MY DOG IS IN THE CAR!!!" * 2024: A fake butt * 2025: A taxidermied rabbit * 2026: A 75-gallon fish tank

Looking ahead, Uber announced plans to introduce an enhanced lost and found reporting system within its applications. This new feature is scheduled for a nationwide rollout by the end of the year.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 18:51:07 UTC