A wandering kangaroo that sparked plenty of conversation across Southeast Iowa social media has been safely returned home.
Lee County Sheriff Elliott Vandenberg confirmed deputies assisted in recovering the young kangaroo after it escaped from a private property earlier this week. Deputies Hennigar and Crenshaw responded to what may have been one of the more unusual calls of the year, helping safely reunite the animal with its owner after what authorities described as a little hopping around the countryside.
Officials reported no injuries during the recovery effort, no citations were issued, and the furry suspect was released on its own recognizance.
The kangaroo, which is less than a year old, had been spotted near Highway 103 and in the Chalk Ridge and Denmark Blacktop areas, prompting authorities to ask motorists to use caution and residents to report sightings.
Owner Theresa Potter said the animal does not pose a danger to the public and believes the escape may have been intentional. Potter alleges someone damaged the enclosure by cutting fencing and forcing boards apart. The kangaroo escaped from a 10-foot-high fenced area where three other kangaroos remain securely contained. Potter says she holds the proper licenses and certifications required to keep the animals in Iowa.
Authorities thanked residents who shared information and helped keep an eye out during the search. While it’s not every day law enforcement officers add “kangaroo wrangler” to their list of duties, officials say they’re grateful the unusual incident ended safely for everyone involved.
Photos released by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office shows Deputy Hennigar and the recovered kangaroo. Deputy Crenshaw, who also assisted in the capture, was not pictured.
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Lee County authorities are asking residents to be on the lookout for an unusual escapee — a young kangaroo that got loose from a private property this week. Lee County Sheriff Elliott Vandenberg confirmed deputies were notified of the situation Wednesday and are assisting efforts to safely recover the animal.
Owner Theresa Potter says the kangaroo is less than a year old and poses no danger to the public, but she is urging people not to approach it if spotted. The animal has reportedly been seen near Highway 103, and motorists in the Chalk Ridge and Denmark Blacktop areas are being asked to use caution. Potter says efforts are underway to safely capture and return the kangaroo, including bringing in equipment that could be used to sedate the animal if necessary.
Potter believes the escape may have been intentional, alleging someone damaged the enclosure by cutting fencing and forcing boards apart. She says the kangaroo escaped from a 10-foot-high fenced area where three other kangaroos remain contained. Potter says she has the proper licenses and certifications required to keep the animals in Iowa.