Outback comes to West Texas when pet kangaroo gets loose in Midland County

Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A pet kangaroo that got loose on Highway 158 near Highway 191 in Midland County on Tuesday brought some visions of the Outback to West Texas.

Ryan Murray was in his car when he arrived on the scene.

"I've seen a lot of weird stuff but I've never seen anything like that," Murray said. "I saw all these cops and I was wondering what was going on and then I saw the silhouette of a little baby kangaroo.”

Surprised, Murray got out his phone and started recording. "I couldn't believe it," he said. "I was like that's pretty strange."

He wasn’t the only one. Midland County deputies were also a little incredulous.

"They were questioning the call you know, kangaroo? In Midland, Texas? There ain't no kangaroos out here, surely it's gotta be something different," said Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter. "They thought dispatch was crazy so they went out there and sure enough they found it."

Deputies and the kangaroo’s owner were able to work together to trap the missing marsupial.

"He got out of the car and then had a treat and as soon as he reached in to grab the treat, he scooped him up," Murray said. "Right place, right time pretty much. I have the proof."

Sheriff Painter said the county will be reviewing its exotic animal ordinance. "They have to have pens and we have to inspect them and we have to have a record of it and all that kind of stuff," Painter said. "This is my first kangaroo so that's interesting."

Source:

[KWES]