Imagine glancing out your window in northeastern Oklahoma and spotting… a kangaroo! That’s exactly what happened in the Tulsa suburb of Bixby this past Monday, sending local authorities on a truly hopping mission. Deputies from the Tulsa Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office sprang into action after reports of a loose marsupial, an animal decidedly far from its native Australian habitat.
This wasn’t your everyday stray dog call. Officers embarked on a unique search-and-capture adventure to secure the unexpected runaway. Thankfully, the chase was short-lived and ended happily for both the adventurous female kangaroo, named Martha, and her owner. With crucial assistance from the owner, deputies were able to safely secure Martha, who had simply wandered off her property not far from where she was recaptured.
The unusual incident quickly became a sensation online. A post shared by the sheriff’s office on Facebook exploded with interest, racking up over 300 comments and more than 600 shares in under an hour. It’s not every day you see pictures of local deputies wrangling an exotic animal in the American heartland, and the community clearly loved the quirky story!
While kangaroos are iconic to Australia and New Guinea, they’re certainly not a common sight in the United States, usually found only in zoos, exotic animal parks, or private collections. Martha’s brief Bixby escapade, near a town of about 28,000 people, serves as a whimsical and unique reminder of the unexpected wildlife (and sometimes, pets!) that can occasionally be found right in our own backyards. All’s well that ends well for Martha, who’s now safely back home, likely dreaming of her next big adventure, and giving Bixby a story to tell for years to come.
