Kangaroo Escapes Petting Zoo, Evades Capture for 3 Days

Chesney the kangaroo scales 8-foot fence, sparking community-wide search in small Wisconsin town

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:49am

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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, evading his keeper Debbie Marland and a team of volunteers who used heat-seeking drones in an extensive search effort to try and locate him. Chesney was eventually found and returned to the farm, though the ordeal highlighted the challenges of keeping exotic animals secure and the community's willingness to help.

Why it matters

The escape of Chesney the kangaroo underscores the difficulties petting zoos and small farms face in keeping exotic animals properly contained, especially when unexpected events like stray dogs can spook the animals. It also showcases the resourcefulness and community spirit of the residents of Necedah, Wisconsin, who rallied together to try and locate the missing kangaroo over the course of several days.

The details

Chesney, a 16-month-old kangaroo, escaped from his enclosure at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin last Wednesday morning after being spooked by stray dogs that rushed the area. Chesney was able to scale an 8-foot fence and went on the run for the next three days, staying within a 3-mile radius of the farm but evading capture. Keeper Debbie Marland and a team of volunteers, including the owner of a drone service, spent days searching for Chesney, chasing down reported sightings and using heat-sensing drones to try and track him. Chesney was finally located on Friday night, but he slipped away from the searchers. He was eventually found and returned to the farm on Saturday morning after Marland's friend Stacy Brereton was able to calmly approach him.

  • Chesney escaped around 11:15 AM on Wednesday, March 27, 2026.
  • The search for Chesney lasted for 3 days, from Wednesday, March 27 to Saturday, March 30, 2026.
  • Chesney was finally located and returned to the farm on Saturday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Chesney

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

Debbie Marland

The keeper at Sunshine Farm responsible for caring for Chesney and the other animals.

Stacy Brereton

A friend of Debbie Marland's who helps out routinely at Sunshine Farm and was able to calmly approach and capture Chesney on Saturday.

Colton Johnson

The owner of Midwest Aerial Drone Services, who used heat-sensing drones to assist in the search for Chesney.

Kenny

Chesney's roommate, another kangaroo at Sunshine Farm.

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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, Keeper, Sunshine Farm

“It almost looked like a dinosaur running through the woods. It's got a long tail, and the way it was moving and hopping, that's the only way that I can describe it.”

— Colton Johnson, Owner, Midwest Aerial Drone Services

“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, Volunteer, Sunshine Farm

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges petting zoos and small farms face in keeping exotic animals properly contained, as well as the importance of a community coming together to help locate a missing animal. Chesney's adventure also showcased the resourcefulness of the Sunshine Farm staff and local residents in using innovative methods like heat-seeking drones to track down the wayward kangaroo.