A pet kangaroo that had escaped from its enclosure in mid-October in Florida, triggering a search operation, has been safely returned to its home. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) found the kangaroo on Wednesday in a fenced area.
Residents of Pierson, a small town in Volusia County, had bee alert since the kangaroo’s escape on October 17, caused by a bear intrusion. The peculiar sight even prompted some residents to warn drivers about the possibility of encountering a kangaroo on the road.
Upon locating the kangaroo, the FWC and the kangaroo’s owner promptly moved to capture and return it home. However, the owner was fined for having an expired exotic animal license, inadequate caging and failure to notify the FWC about the escape within the required timeline.
While locals found the incident amusing and intriguing, the FWC reiterated that kangaroos, despite being typically non-threatening to other species, can defend themselves if they feel threatened.