A Kangaroo Jumped An Eight Foot Fence and Traveled Miles Through Wisconsin

An eight-foot leap of faith is making one kangaroo famous in the small town of Necedah, Wisconsin. Chesney, a 16-month-old kangaroo from Sunshine Farm, recently staged an escape that led to a 160-mile search. The young marsupial seemed to have big city dreams as he headed toward Milwaukee, with his anxious caretakers close behind (literally). Thankfully, the search had a happy ending for Chesney, but not without the help of some serious tech and a lot of cardio.

How Chesney Staged His Great Escape

Kangaroos are known for their ability to jump up to ten feet in the air. Usually, an eight-foot-tall fence is enough to keep them contained, unless they are startled.
Once comfortable in their enclosures, they’re unlikely to escape unless spooked. However, this is precisely what happened to Chesney on the day of his master escape. When some stray dogs rushed the young kangaroo’s pen, he did the only thing he knew how: He jumped.

Chesney’s keeper, Debbie Marland, immediately jumped into action to search the surrounding area. Necedah is a small village with a population of fewer than 1,000. It is surrounded by remote, rural land, with dense valleys and woodland on one side and the Wisconsin River on the other. The search area was tremendous, and Marland recruited several friends to help. The group followed reports of sightings as they searched the vast 160-mile area between themselves and Chesney.

Drones and Thermal Imaging Were Crucial

Marland said in an interview with Fox 8 that she was walking upward of 37,000 steps a day during their four-day search. The group used heat-seeking drones to help scan densely wooded areas as they followed incoming tips. This proved to be one of the most effective tools for finding the kangaroo. When Chesney was eventually found in the camera footage, Colton Johnson, owner of Midwest Aerial Drone Services, said it was an interesting sight.

Johnson compared Chesney’s heat signature to that of a dinosaur hopping through the woods. While these drones are typically used for dog rescues and deer hunting, this search was especially unique. Johnson spent the better part of three days alongside Marland. As they tracked Chesney’s heat signature, they eventually caught up to the hippity-hopping kangaroo that Thursday. To everyone’s disappointment, Chesney once again slipped away by jumping into the river and evading the search party.

Finally, a Break in the Search

By Friday morning, worry over Chesney’s well-being weighed heavily on the entire search party. Once again, they caught up to the speedy kangaroo as he nestled underneath a shady tree. But once again, Chesney was spooked by the commotion and set off again. It’s estimated that, at this point, Chesney was outrunning his rescuers by as much as 20 miles per hour.

With nothing else to lose, Marland ventured out to the same place with a sentimental state of mind. She brought Chesney’s favorite treats and items that smelled like him. The goal was to lure Chesney in with the comforts of home, and thankfully, it worked.

Sunshine Farm is no stranger to animals of all walks of life. It’s home to horses, sheep, alpacas, Kunekune pigs, highland cows, and even a Bactrian camel. Its staff is highly qualified and, even more importantly, highly compassionate. Stacy Brereton, a routine farm helper, joined Marland that Saturday on her return to the last place Chesney had been. She witnessed the kangaroo return, and it was evident that he was not stressed or fearful. Brereton told Fox 8 that she simply sat and allowed Chesney to come to her, which is how they eventually got him close enough to catch.

A Hoppity-Happy Ending For Everyone

“I do believe he heard our comforting voices, he smelled the familiar smells of home, and it just made him feel safe. I’m just glad he loves me as much as I love him,” Brereton said in the interview with Fox 8. It was clear that the entire community came together to save Chesney, despite his yearning for adventure. According to Marland, the kangaroo is now famous in the small village of Necedah, and there are plans to publish a children’s book about his adventure.

More good news came in the form of a health checkup, followed by a more thorough examination by Sunshine Farm’s veterinarian. Although tired from his 160-mile journey, Chesney was in good spirits and surrounded by the keepers who love him. Moving forward, Marland isn’t taking any chances. A new mesh covering will be installed on Chesney’s enclosure to prevent him from escaping again.