Kangaroo remains on the loose in Texas, USA after jumping fence

December 25, 2024 12:23 PM

Kangaroo remains on the loose in Texas, USA after jumping fence.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (24 comments total)

“He is not your stereotypical kangaroo.”

This changes everything.
posted by Lemkin at 12:35 PM on December 25 [2 favorites]

Kangaroo jumping? Chance in a million!
posted by stet at 12:47 PM on December 25 [5 favorites]

This makes me hoppy.
posted by Czjewel at 12:49 PM on December 25 [3 favorites]

Homeboy's name is Rowdy! I hope he gets home safe.
posted by East14thTaco at 12:56 PM on December 25 [1 favorite]

Requires a permit to own one in Tx, illegal most states as pets.
Seeing the problems with pythons in Florida,
I'd be a little worried about a breeding pair of kangaroos loose in Tx.
posted by the Real Dan at 1:02 PM on December 25 [4 favorites]

As long as it’s not a native Aussie spider, it’s fine.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:37 PM on December 25 [1 favorite]

It's Boxing Day; I am tired.
My first thought was "How the hell do the ashes of a kangaroo jump anything?"
Ah, not that kind of remains, then.
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 2:07 PM on December 25 [6 favorites]

“He is not your stereotypical kangaroo.”

No boxing gloves, then?
posted by SPrintF at 2:16 PM on December 25 [2 favorites]

Oh, fantastic. I have family near there and have gleefully notified them. I've seen all sorts of exotic animals in rural Texas.
posted by mersen at 2:20 PM on December 25 [1 favorite]

Pet kangaroo. What the bloody hell is wrong with people in the states. Like it’s a bad idea in Australia but a double bad idea in the US. Where are they going to find a vet that specializes in macropod physiology? They need a LOT of space to live and graze happily. In Australia it’s a given you can’t keep a wild animal as a pet but here? You have the absolute freedom to do the dumbest shit possible.
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 2:48 PM on December 25 [16 favorites]

You have the absolute freedom to do the dumbest shit possible.

Isn't that the motto of the United States?
posted by moosedogtoo at 3:18 PM on December 25 [13 favorites]

I'd be a little worried about a breeding pair of kangaroos loose in Tx.

Exotic animal ranches are popular in TX so we do end up with problems like imported invasive deer.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:34 PM on December 25 [2 favorites]

and emus.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 3:55 PM on December 25 [2 favorites]

No, that’s the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the Texans simply shoot the exotic species.
posted by ryanrs at 4:57 PM on December 25 [4 favorites]

Maybe they can ask the folks in McCormick County, SC for some suggestions.
posted by TedW at 5:12 PM on December 25 [1 favorite]

You have the absolute freedom to do the dumbest shit possible.

Let me introduce you to the tiger lady of New Jersey.
posted by mollweide at 5:19 PM on December 25 [2 favorites]

Poor kangaroo. 😔
posted by tiny frying pan at 8:36 PM on December 25

Texas seems to pride itself on being the wild west in this area. It’s ridiculously irresponsible both for animal welfare and the state’s ecosystems. It would take feral hogs running through the statehouse to get them to reconsider this, and even that might not be enough.

I remember when the emu market collapsed and feral emus were sprinkled about. One showed up on my grandma’s ranch north of Austin. It lived quite a long time for an abandoned exotic animal gone feral, though the hunters weren’t too happy about it eating grain from their deer feeders.

A loose kangaroo in Austin County has to avoid being hit by cars, especially with all the gigantic trucks speeding around. Hopefully the poor thing is located and returned safe and sound.
posted by fontgoddess at 9:05 PM on December 25 [4 favorites]

I'd be a little worried about a breeding pair of kangaroos loose in Tx.

Consider for a moment the plagues in The Bible. Note the Locust and now look up Grasshopper Pass. See how America used to have a locust problem and now doesn't?

That is because America took out a biblical level plague. The Kangaroo's won't stand a chance.
posted by rough ashlar at 4:21 AM on December 26

Yes. Unless it can distinguish a brine pool from normal water, its chances are lowered
posted by eustatic at 6:53 AM on December 26

Like it’s a bad idea in Australia but a double bad idea in the US. Where are they going to find a vet that specializes in macropod physiology?

As it happens, in the same county as the escaped kangaroo:

https://today.tamu.edu/2024/01/18/new-strategies-for-treating-ear-issues-in-kangaroos/

Texas A&M has both a school of Veterinary Medicine and 2 in-house kangaroos. It is located in Austin county (as opposed to the city) as is the escaped kangaroo. So, while the legal situation isn't ideal, they do have local veterinary care.
posted by howbigisthistextfield at 11:11 AM on December 26 [2 favorites]

I am, personally, rooting for the kangaroo. I like the idea of living in a world where there might, just maybe, be a kangaroo popping up at various Texas campgrounds and parks. It would add to the air of surreality that we need to survive the day in this modern era.
posted by sotonohito at 1:18 PM on December 26 [2 favorites]

We supposedly had a cassowary on the loose in my neighborhood the other day and I could never figure out it if it was real or a prank. Surreal indeed!
posted by tofu_crouton at 8:16 AM on December 27

The eirias clan stayed at an Airbnb in some Columbus OH exurb a couple years back, a hobby farm kind of place. Turns out one of the neighbors had two pet macropods, whether kangaroo or wallaby I couldn’t say. I was startled to learn it’s legal there.
posted by eirias at 11:42 AM on December 27