Kangaroo missing in Florida after a bear apparently entered its enclosure: sheriff

Kangaroo on the loose in Florida

A kangaroo was spotted hopping around Pierson on Thursday, prompting a response from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The animal was later confirmed to belong to a nearby resident, officials said.

PIERSON, Fla. - Have you seen a kangaroo hopping around Florida? A kangaroo has apparently gone missing from its home in Volusia County after it escaped from its enclosure, according to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

"Just when you think you've seen it all. The Town of Pierson is hopping tonight," Sheriff Chitwood posted on his social channels, including a screenshot of a post on the "Pierson Community Page" page.

Photo courtesy: Haley Dehut

According to Sheriff Chitwood, a kangaroo apparently escaped after a bear entered its enclosure. So far, the kangaroo has not been located. Anyone who spots it, should contact the Volusia Sheriff's Office.

The Town of Pierson is described as a small, rural community in Volusia County. It is located about 11 miles north of De Leon Springs, Florida.

Are kangaroos native to Florida?

Nope. Kangaroos are native to Australia or New Guinea.

"There's a kangaroo in my apartment"

It's not the first time a kangaroo has been spotted in Florida. In Feb. 2024, a kangaroo was on the run in Tampa, according to our partners at FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to an apartment complex after someone called to report a kangaroo in the complex's pool area. The kangaroo was eventually reunited with its owner.