The Great Missouri Kangaroo Adventure

Curiosity Has Powerful Legs

Is that the way?

There's a kangaroo on the loose in southeastern Missouri.

Now, if this story had taken place in Australia, it wouldn't have been much of a story. Australians probably wake up, look out the window, see a kangaroo, and think, "Yep. Tuesday."

Missouri is different. Missouri has deer. Missouri has raccoons. Missouri has squirrels with more confidence than judgment.

Missouri does not generally have kangaroos.

This particular kangaroo is named Roofus. I appreciate that the article eventually revealed his name because it's difficult to become emotionally invested in the welfare of "the kangaroo." Roofus is somebody. I hope Roofus is having a wonderful time.

Apparently he had been living a perfectly respectable life as a pet until an excavator showed up to do some work. Whether it was the noise, the vibration, or simply the realization that somebody had left the gate open, Roofus made what can only be described as a life-changing decision.

He left.

To be fair, if someone unexpectedly opened every door between me and the outside world, I'd probably be tempted to see what was over the next hill too.

From what I've read, kangaroos in the wild don't spend their entire lives standing under one tree. They travel. They explore. They cover a surprising amount of territory.

So why wouldn't Roofus?

Imagine spending your entire life looking beyond a fence at a world you've never been allowed to visit. Then one morning, the gate is open. Of course you're going exploring.

Since then, Roofus has reportedly been spotted by a FedEx driver. I suspect that's one of those stories that requires several attempts before people stop laughing long enough to believe you.

"No, really."

"It was a kangaroo."

"In Missouri."

The search has expanded to include drones and thermal imaging, which means there are now people walking around rural Missouri using sophisticated technology to locate an Australian marsupial.

I wonder what the local wildlife makes of all this.

A deer catches sight of something bouncing across a field on two enormous legs. A raccoon pauses halfway through stealing somebody's birdseed.

Even the squirrels have to be thinking, "That's new."

I hope Roofus gets home safely. Not because I think he regrets leaving. I suspect he's having the adventure of a lifetime. But eventually curiosity gives way to hunger, and familiar places begin to sound appealing again.

Besides, Missouri is only exciting for so long when you're the only kangaroo in it.