Escaped kangaroo stops traffic on Virginia highway before rescue
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Local law enforcement took action Saturday morning after a kangaroo was spotted along a major highway in central Virginia.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Thomas Nelson Highway and Oak Ridge Road near the unincorporated community of Arrington after receiving a report of a kangaroo blocking traffic.
“You never know what you’ll see on a weekend in Nelson County!” the sheriff’s office wrote, sharing snowy photos of the unusual highway hopper.
The teams arriving at the scene found that the animal was injured. Photos showed blood on the kangaroo’s paws.
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Virginia law enforcement took action after a kangaroo was spotted leaping through traffic on a major highway Saturday morning. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)
Officers guided the kangaroo safely off the road and onto nearby private property before tracking down the animal’s owner, according to authorities.
“When the owner arrived, he shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart to calm it down,” Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embrey told Fox News Digital.
With the help of Virginia Conservation Police Officer Andrew Sundra, deputies were able to safely capture the injured kangaroo. The animal was returned to its owner and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the sheriff’s office.
“The kangaroo has been returned to its owner and is expected to make a healthy recovery!” wrote the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to thank everyone who helped our deputies through this unusual incident!”
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The animal was returned to its owner and is expected to fully recover. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)
Embrey said the female kangaroo escaped from private property miles away after being chased by local hunting dogs. The dogs frightened the animal, causing it to jump over the fence.
At the time of the escape, the kangaroo was carrying her baby, known as Joey.
“This kangaroo was a female and had a ‘joey’ baby on her,” he said. “After jumping the fence, she dropped her baby a short distance from her owner’s farm. The female kangaroo continued to be pushed by local hunting dogs.”
Once the animal reached the highway, Embrey said he successfully outran the dogs.
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Embrey said the female kangaroo escaped from private property miles away after being chased by local hunting dogs. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)
Hours later, the department seized on the moment with a playful follow-up.
“We already had a fight with a rogue kangaroo today,” the office wrote. “Let’s not make Saturday night an adventure in the country, guys.”
The incident is reminiscent of a similar escape last April, when a runaway kangaroo forced the closure of an Alabama interstate.
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This animal was later captured by state troopers and its owner after being involved in a two-vehicle accident.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.
