‘I’m so confused.’ Runaway wallaby causes drivers to do double-takes on New York road
Some drivers found themselves doing a double take when they spotted what looked like a small kangaroo hopping down the side of a road in rural New York.
“Does anyone know of anyone on 430 that owns a small kangaroo — or something that resembles it?” one driver took to Facebook to ask after she spotted the critter on Monday, Oct. 2. “I just saw it hopping down the side of the road and I’m so confused….”
She later learned it was a wallaby that had gone missing from a hobby farm in Chautauqua County, about 50 miles southwest of Buffalo along Lake Erie.
A local animal shelter posted about the runaway wallaby that night and again on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
“The news of our exotic friend has spread and we know several people are looking for it,” Small Town Shelter said on Facebook.
The wallaby was still missing as of Wednesday, Oct. 4, officials at the shelter said. They figured it probably scampered off into the woods and hid.
Professional trappers and people with horses and ATVs have offered to help find the critter, officials said.
Animal rescue experts at the shelter provided tips to those who might encounter the wallaby out in the wild. Officials predicted the most likely sighting would be around dusk since the marsupial is nocturnal.
It would likely be frightened as well, so it’s a good idea for people to be careful even if they do spot it, officials said. While wallabies are small, they have extremely strong hind legs.
They recommended trying to trap the wallaby in a barn, garage, or otherwise fenced in or enclosed area — for both the animal’s and human’s safety.
“Time is of the essence! This wallaby is not native to our area, and it is not safe,” shelter officials said. “We do not suggest trying to grab the wallaby unless you know what you are doing. They can cause serious damage with those back legs.”
This story was originally published October 4, 2023 at 1:54 PM with the headline "‘I’m so confused.’ Runaway wallaby causes drivers to do double-takes on New York road."
