People driving the Thruway must have done a double take early this afternoon as they passed through Chittenango. On the shoulder of the four lane divided highway - an animal that looked an awful lot like a kangaroo was hopping along. The calls started coming into 911 and the State Police. Soon an APB went out to Troopers: look out for the kangaroo on the Thruway. It wasn't an issue of an unpaid EZ Pass account. They wanted to help bring this kangaroo back to a safe place.
Pinning the facts of this story down ended up being as much of a challenge as catching a hopping marsupial. We sent a photographer out to Madison County to grab some video of the kangaroo or at least talk to police who were aiding in the search. There was no one to be found. I started making calls from the newsroom.
State Police in Oneida said it must be Syracuse covering the kangaroo case. I called Syracuse. I identified myself. Without asking a question the Investigator who answered the phone told me - "Yes, the kangaroo has been caught." We shared a laugh about the ludicrous nature of the story. He didn't have any further detail. He said maybe State Police in Oneida had more. I already knew they didn't.
I called Troopers in Albany. They said it must be Syracuse or perhaps Schuyler. I called Schuyler. They said it must be Syracuse. I called Syracuse again to let them know how silly this chase through State Trooper barracks had become. We chuckled more about the roundabout of calls.
I even asked for one Sergeant who was quoted on Syracuse.com as if she was an expert on this search. She admitted she hadn't even been on the scene, but someone told her there was a kangaroo and it had been caught. I would soon find out that was not entirely true.
Jackie Robinson wondered if the State DEC might be assisting in the effort. That was a good suggestion. I reached the DEC who confirmed they were sending an investigator out to see whether this animal was really a kangaroo and whether the owner was properly permitted to have one in captivity. I next reached the Town of Sullivan animal control officer. She confirmed the name of the kangaroo owner.
I tracked him down through a few key internet searches and found Jeff Taylor as an owner of an animal exhibit in Canaseraga (which is just outside Chittenango). I uncovered Jeff's phone number. I reached him and opened with the question: is your guy back? He said he was not. I was surprised. I asked whether he was actually a kangaroo. Jeff said no he is a wallaroo. He told me how they're similar, but a little smaller.
We had new news here. 9WSYR was reporting it was a kangaroo and it was caught. So was Syracuse.com. Instead it was a wallaroo and it was on the loose. Now, Jeff eased any fears by letting me know the wallaroo is not a danger to the public, but he said it should not be approached because it will scare easily and be even harder to find.
Jeff runs a petting zoo and is working on an educational animal exhibit. He said he thinks someone snuck into his barn and set the wallaroo free. It has actually been out in the wild for several weeks. It's just too hard to catch. I asked Jeff if he had named his wallaroo. He said not yet. I asked what he might name it, "He said something like Bandit." So Bandit it is. Glad to help with the naming process. I now see some of the other media has picked up on the same name.
So, if you happen to see a wallaroo hopping down the street, and you don't live in Australia, do not approach. He intends no harm, but he won't come and nibble snacks from your hand. Bandit would probably better off sneaking back into his barn. A giant cage will be used tomorrow to see if he can be enticed to come home and get off the Thruway. He better. Or else sooner or later the Thruway Authority is going to find a way to raise his tolls too.
You can always read the blog on CNYcentral.com.
Follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/mattmulcahy
or
Find me on Facebook.com
Pinning the facts of this story down ended up being as much of a challenge as catching a hopping marsupial. We sent a photographer out to Madison County to grab some video of the kangaroo or at least talk to police who were aiding in the search. There was no one to be found. I started making calls from the newsroom.
State Police in Oneida said it must be Syracuse covering the kangaroo case. I called Syracuse. I identified myself. Without asking a question the Investigator who answered the phone told me - "Yes, the kangaroo has been caught." We shared a laugh about the ludicrous nature of the story. He didn't have any further detail. He said maybe State Police in Oneida had more. I already knew they didn't.
I called Troopers in Albany. They said it must be Syracuse or perhaps Schuyler. I called Schuyler. They said it must be Syracuse. I called Syracuse again to let them know how silly this chase through State Trooper barracks had become. We chuckled more about the roundabout of calls.
I even asked for one Sergeant who was quoted on Syracuse.com as if she was an expert on this search. She admitted she hadn't even been on the scene, but someone told her there was a kangaroo and it had been caught. I would soon find out that was not entirely true.
Jackie Robinson wondered if the State DEC might be assisting in the effort. That was a good suggestion. I reached the DEC who confirmed they were sending an investigator out to see whether this animal was really a kangaroo and whether the owner was properly permitted to have one in captivity. I next reached the Town of Sullivan animal control officer. She confirmed the name of the kangaroo owner.
I tracked him down through a few key internet searches and found Jeff Taylor as an owner of an animal exhibit in Canaseraga (which is just outside Chittenango). I uncovered Jeff's phone number. I reached him and opened with the question: is your guy back? He said he was not. I was surprised. I asked whether he was actually a kangaroo. Jeff said no he is a wallaroo. He told me how they're similar, but a little smaller.
We had new news here. 9WSYR was reporting it was a kangaroo and it was caught. So was Syracuse.com. Instead it was a wallaroo and it was on the loose. Now, Jeff eased any fears by letting me know the wallaroo is not a danger to the public, but he said it should not be approached because it will scare easily and be even harder to find.
Jeff runs a petting zoo and is working on an educational animal exhibit. He said he thinks someone snuck into his barn and set the wallaroo free. It has actually been out in the wild for several weeks. It's just too hard to catch. I asked Jeff if he had named his wallaroo. He said not yet. I asked what he might name it, "He said something like Bandit." So Bandit it is. Glad to help with the naming process. I now see some of the other media has picked up on the same name.
So, if you happen to see a wallaroo hopping down the street, and you don't live in Australia, do not approach. He intends no harm, but he won't come and nibble snacks from your hand. Bandit would probably better off sneaking back into his barn. A giant cage will be used tomorrow to see if he can be enticed to come home and get off the Thruway. He better. Or else sooner or later the Thruway Authority is going to find a way to raise his tolls too.
You can always read the blog on CNYcentral.com.
Follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/mattmulcahy
or
Find me on Facebook.com
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