Kangaroo Escapes Petting Zoo, Leads 3-Day Search

Chesney the kangaroo jumped an 8-foot fence and spent three days on the run before being safely returned to his home at Sunshine Farm in Wisconsin.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:25pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph in soft, warm tones depicting the silhouette of a kangaroo hopping through a blurred, dreamlike forest landscape.The high-jumping kangaroo's daring escape from a Wisconsin petting zoo captivated the local community and highlighted the challenges of caring for exotic animals in public settings.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 jumped an 8-foot fence and spent the next three days evading his keepers and the local community who searched tirelessly to find him, using heat-sensing drones and other methods to track his movements. Chesney was eventually located and safely returned to the farm, though the ordeal highlighted the need for additional security measures to prevent future escapes.

Why it matters

Kangaroo escapes from petting zoos are extremely rare, making Chesney's adventure all the more remarkable. The incident sparked a community-wide search effort and shone a light on the challenges of caring for exotic animals in a public setting. It also underscores the importance of proper enclosure design and animal welfare protocols to ensure the safety of both the animals and the public.

The details

Chesney, who is named after country music star Kenny Chesney, is one of 25 animals at Sunshine Farm. Last Wednesday, he escaped after being spooked by stray dogs that rushed his enclosure. Over the next three days, his keeper Debbie Marland and a team of volunteers trekked for miles, chasing reported sightings and even using heat-sensing drones to try and locate the high-jumping kangaroo. Chesney stayed within a 3-mile radius of the farm but managed to evade capture multiple times, at one point jumping into a cold river to slip away. He was finally found on Saturday morning, drawn back to the familiar scents and voices of his home.

  • On April 1, 2026, Chesney escaped from his enclosure at around 11:15 AM.
  • Over the next three days, Marland and volunteers searched extensively for Chesney.
  • Chesney was finally located and safely returned to the farm on Saturday morning.

The players

Chesney

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

Debbie Marland

Chesney's keeper at Sunshine Farm, who led the search effort to find him.

Stacy Brereton

A volunteer who helped search for Chesney and was eventually able to safely capture him.

Colton Johnson

The owner of Midwest Aerial Drone Services, who used heat-sensing drones to assist 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

“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

“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, Volunteer at Sunshine Farm

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges of caring for exotic animals in a public setting and the importance of robust safety protocols to ensure the well-being of both the animals and visitors. The community's collaborative effort to locate Chesney and return him safely to the farm demonstrates the power of coming together to address unexpected situations.