Escaped kangaroo stops traffic on Virginia highway before rescue

Local law enforcement sprang into action Saturday morning after a kangaroo was spotted on a major highway in central Virginia.

The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Thomas Nelson Highway and Oak Ridge Road, near the unincorporated community of Arrington, after receiving a report of a kangaroo blocking traffic.

“You never know what you’re going to see on a weekend in Nelson County!” » wrote the sheriff’s office, sharing snowy photos of the improbable road hopper.

Once on scene, police quickly determined that the animal was injured. The photos appeared to show blood on the kangaroo’s legs.

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Law enforcement in Virginia sprang into action Saturday morning after a kangaroo was spotted crossing traffic on a major highway. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)

Officers moved the kangaroo off the road and toward nearby private property before tracking down the animal’s owner, authorities said.

“When the owner arrived, he shot the animal with a tranquilizer dart to subdue it,” Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embrey told Fox News Digital.

With the help of Virginia Conservation Police Officer Andrew Sundra, officers were able to safely capture the injured kangaroo. The animal was returned to its owner and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The Kangaroo has been returned to its owner and is expected to make a healthy recovery!” »wrote the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. “We would like to thank everyone who assisted our deputies during this very unusual incident!”

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The animal has been returned to its owner and is expected to make a full recovery. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)

Embrey said the female kangaroo escaped from private property several miles away after being chased by local hunting dogs. The dogs frightened the animal, causing it to jump over a containment fence.

At the time of the escape, the kangaroo was carrying her baby, known as Joey.

“This kangaroo was female and she had her baby ‘Joey’ on her,” he said. “After jumping the fence, she dropped her baby off a short distance from the owner’s farm. The female kangaroo continued to be pushed around by local hunting dogs.”

By the time the animal reached the highway, Embrey said, she had managed to outrun the dogs.

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Embrey said the female kangaroo escaped from private property several miles away after being chased by local hunting dogs. (Nelson County Sheriff’s Office)

Hours later, the department addressed the moment with a tongue-in-cheek follow-up.

“We have already faced a wayward kangaroo today,” the office wrote. “Let’s not turn Saturday night into a backcountry adventure, folks.”

The incident echoes a similar escape last April, when a fleeing kangaroo forced the closure of an Alabama interstate highway.

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This animal was later captured by state troopers and its owner after it was involved in a two-vehicle accident.

Greg Norman-Diamond of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.