A red kangaroo named Hunter hopped loose in the Richmond, Kentucky area Thursday after escaping from its owner’s property, drawing a response from multiple law enforcement and wildlife agencies before it was returned home safely.
Kentucky State Police confirmed the marsupial was spotted in the Gibson Bay area of Richmond. The kangaroo’s owner said Hunter escaped from their property in the Battlefield Subdivision.
The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife and Richmond Animal Control participated in the search, authorities said.
Hunter’s owner confirmed later Thursday that the kangaroo had been returned to the property unharmed.
Kentucky does not require permits for owning kangaroos and similar exotic animals, but the state does require permits to transport such animals across state lines.
The incident follows a series of recent animal escapes across the country. MSI reported Wednesday that a loose chicken took a dip in a pool after leading a chase through a Kentucky neighborhood. Other recent incidents include the capture of nine wild mustangs in North Carolina and a Louisiana zoo surrendered by its founder following animal escapes and USDA violations.