Photo: Diane Keough / Moment / Getty Images
A kangaroo named Rowdy is missing near Sealy, Texas, after escaping from his enclosure early Wednesday morning (December 18). Rowdy, who stands 5 feet tall and weighs 70 pounds, was last seen at 4:15 a.m. near a truck stop off Interstate 10 and Pyka Road. His owner, Marsha Matus, discovered the empty enclosure and expressed her distress, saying, "We just want him back."
Rowdy has been with the Matus family for three years, having been raised from a joey and bottle-fed. Matus described Rowdy as non-aggressive but scared, noting that he is unlikely to approach strangers. The kangaroo's disappearance has garnered significant attention from the Sealy community and beyond.
"I'm very scared for him because I know he's scared," she said.
Matus believes that the thick fog and wet conditions on Wednesday morning allowed Rowdy to push open the gate and jump over the backyard fence. She explained that kangaroos are nocturnal, making early morning and nighttime the best times to search for him.
iHeartRadio morning show host Dana Tyson was driving to work on Wednesday morning when she saw Rowdy jump in front of her car.
"4:15. Totally foggy," she told KTRK. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think a kangaroo would jump in front of my car."
Despite efforts by neighbors and social media posts, Rowdy has not yet been found. Matus is hopeful for his safe return but is concerned that he might wander too far from familiar areas. She has asked anyone who spots Rowdy to contact her, the Austin County Sheriff's Office, or the Department of Public Safety.