Chesney the kangaroo jumped an eight-foot fence to escape his petting zoo in Wisconsin, spending three days on the lam.
John O'ConnorThis image made from video provided by Debbie Marland shows Chesney the kangaroo near Sunshine Farm, in Necedah, Wis., Saturday, March 28, 2026. It's not the opening line to a dad joke. If you're Chesney the kangaroo, you scale an eight-foot fence and go on the lam for three days, giving your keeper sleepless nights and sending residents of a small Wisconsin town on a search that would end happily on Saturday.
The unprecedented leap at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin, last week was precipitated by some stray dogs that rushed the enclosure and spooked the 16-month-old Chesney, said his keeper, Debbie Marland. She and friends then trekked hither and yon in this town about 160 miles northwest of Milwaukee. They chased reports of sightings and even rented heat-seeking drones, which proved effective in narrowing down the wanderings of the high-jumping adventurer. “I was putting on about 37,000 steps per day looking for him,” Marland said Sunday."I haven't done so much exercise in a very long time." Chesney and his roommate Kenny are named for country-music star Kenny Chesney. They're among 25 animals at Sunshine Farm, with horses, sheep, alpacas, Kunekune pigs, Highland cows and a Bactrian camel. The farm is generally open Fridays through Sundays from mid-May through mid-November and tours are offered to visitors who can interact with the animals. Chesney escaped about 11:15 a.m. last Wednesday. Though he stayed within a three-mile radius of the farm, he kept his pursuers guessing. According to Marland's friend, Stacy Brereton, who helps out at the farm routinely, Friday was a tough day. No one had spotted Chesney all day and searchers feared he had wandered farther afield into even more unfamiliar territory, Brereton said. Then, Friday night, Chesney was discovered nestled under a tree in a wooded area. A group of searchers surrounded him, but ever fleet of foot — 20 mph is no stretch for him — Chesney eluded them. Marland returned to the area Saturday morning with Chesney's favorite treats and pieces of material that had his and Kenny's scent. Other searchers later joined her. But with no sign of the kangaroo, they started packing up. Just then, they spotted the long-eared kangaroo with outsize back legs approaching.“He had a very calm attitude when he walked up, obviously you could tell he wasn’t in fight-or-flight mode, so I just went with that,” Brereton said. “I just stayed calm with him and I just kind of went and sat and let him come to me.” Chesney heard the voices and wanted attention, said Brereton, who eventually scooped up the 40-pound animal. “I do believe he heard our comforting voices, he smelled the familiar smells of home and it just made him feel safe," said Brereton, adding, “I'm just glad he loves me as much as I love him.” Marland said the “the community really did come together" for the kangaroo, who is now something of a celebrity. A Sunshine Farm fan has written a children's book about Chesney's adventures, which Marland hopes to publish and sell to recoup some of the search costs. Kenny, who with his marsupial mate has the run of Marland's house, was happy to be reunited with Chesney. Though hungry and tired, Chesney was otherwise healthy but will get a checkup with the veterinarian shortly. To be safe, Marland added, a new mesh top will be placed over the kangaroo enclosure to prevent any more high-jumping hijinks. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Cold front is here bringing gusty winds and cooler temperaturesAtascosa County fire seems like a bad case of déjà vuProposed border wall threatens prehistoric cave artAdam Caskey has your Weather Authority cold front forecastHundreds of millions of dollars lost each year to scams at crypto ATMsBank teller and police officer help stop a scamFamily of Matthew Guerra reacts to guilty verdictFamily reacts to guilty verdict in Christopher Preciado trialVerdict reached in Christopher Preciado capital murder trialCastle Hills police department says the armed suspect shot this morning has diedHow to find accurate TSA wait times at airports around the countryRecords show New Braunfels ISD pulling, restricting more books than it has publicly listedResidents hope to stave off light pollution caused by rapid growth of nearby San Antonio74 year old woman hit crossing South General McMullenLake Placid and Lake McQueeney are coming back after sitting emptyNew emissions test could cost Bexar County vehicle ownersVictims’ families sound off on Bexar County DA after accused double murderer gets 50-year sentenceVictims’ families sound off on Bexar County DA after accused double murderer gets 50-year sentenceSan Antonio attorney admits stealing over half a million dollars from children's inheritance.Arrest made in deadly car racing accidentSpurs respond after viral video at game sparks backlashIs the 'smokable' hemp market about to be set ablaze?Reuniting items found along the Guadalupe River after the deadly floodsWeek one of Christopher Preciado trial wraps up
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