Kangaroo Escapes Petting Zoo, Hops to Freedom for 3 Days

Chesney the kangaroo scales 8-foot fence, sends Wisconsin town on wild search before being safely returned

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:18am

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A highly stylized, vibrant silkscreen illustration of a kangaroo's head repeated in a grid pattern, using bold neon colors and heavy black outlines to capture the iconic imagery of the animal at the center of this story in a modern pop art style.Chesney the kangaroo's daring escape from a Wisconsin petting zoo sparked a community-wide search and newfound fame for the adventurous marsupial.Necedah Today

Chesney, a 16-month-old kangaroo at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin, escaped his enclosure last week after being spooked by stray dogs. He scaled an 8-foot fence and went on the run for three days, leading his keeper and local residents on an extensive search before being safely returned to the petting zoo.

Why it matters

Kangaroo escapes from petting zoos are extremely rare, and Chesney's high-jumping adventure sparked a major community effort to locate the missing marsupial. The incident highlights the challenges of keeping exotic animals secure and the importance of quick response to ensure the safety of both the animal and the public.

The details

According to Chesney's keeper Debbie Marland, the kangaroo escaped around 11:15 am last Wednesday after being spooked by stray dogs that rushed his enclosure. Marland and friends then spent days searching the area, chasing reported sightings and even renting heat-seeking drones to try and track Chesney's movements. The kangaroo stayed within a 3-mile radius of the farm but managed to evade capture until he was finally spotted and safely returned on Saturday.

  • Chesney escaped around 11:15 am last Wednesday (March 26, 2026).
  • Searchers spent days looking for Chesney, with Friday being an especially difficult day when no sightings were reported.
  • Chesney was finally located and returned to the farm on Saturday morning (March 28, 2026).

The players

Chesney

A 16-month-old kangaroo who escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin.

Debbie Marland

Chesney's keeper at Sunshine Farm.

Stacy Brereton

A friend of Marland's who helps out at Sunshine Farm and was involved in the search for Chesney.

Sunshine Farm

A petting zoo in Necedah, Wisconsin that is home to Chesney and other animals.

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What they’re saying

“I was putting on about 37,000 steps per day looking for him. I haven't done so much exercise in a very long time.”

— Debbie Marland, Chesney's keeper

“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. I just stayed calm with him and I just kind of went and sat and let him come to me.”

— Stacy Brereton, Sunshine Farm helper

“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.”

— Stacy Brereton, Sunshine Farm helper

What’s next

Sunshine Farm plans to add a new mesh top over the kangaroo enclosure to prevent any future high-jumping escapes.

The takeaway

Chesney's daring escape and the community-wide search to find him highlight the challenges of keeping exotic animals secure in petting zoos, as well as the importance of quick response and public engagement to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public.