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.