A Heat-Sensing Drone Helped Track Down an Escaped Kangaroo in a Small Wisconsin Town
A 16-month-old kangaroo named Chesney bolted from his enclosure at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin, in late March after a pack of stray dogs spooked him. What followed was a multi-day search across wooded terrain, cold rivers and unpredictable weather — and the unexpected technology that helped bring him home is a glimpse at how heat-sensing drones are showing up in places no one expected. The real heroes are the townspeople, who never stopped searching for the marsupial on the run.
A 40-Pound Marsupial on the Run Brought a Town Together
Chesney, a 40-pound marsupial capable of running at speeds of up to about 20 mph, stayed within a 3-mile radius of the farm. That didn’t make catching him any easier.
Owner Debbie Marland gathered friends and began canvassing the area, following any leads they could find. She also deployed an unexpected tool: heat-seeking drones.
“I was putting on about 37,000 steps per day looking for him,” Marland said, per The Associated Press. “I haven’t done so much exercise in a very long time.”
Drones Designed for Lost Pets Take on a Kangaroo
Colton Johnson, owner of Midwest Aerial Drone Services, brought his heat-sensing drone equipment to the search. Johnson has used the technology to help locate deer for hunters and reunite missing dogs with their owners — but tracking a kangaroo through Wisconsin woods was a first.
Johnson spent three days searching for Chesney alongside Marland and a team of volunteers. He said his approach was similar to the methods he uses when searching for lost pets, though the heat signature from Chesney on the drone footage stood out as something unusual compared to his typical searches.
“It almost looked like a dinosaur running through the woods,” Johnson said. “It’s got a long tail, and the way it was moving and hopping, that’s the only way that I can describe it.”
The drone gave the search team an edge, but Chesney proved elusive. The team managed to get close twice, but the frightened kangaroo escaped both times — at one point jumping into a cold river — causing Johnson to lose sight of him on the drone.
There Was a Tense Breakthrough in the Search
According to Stacy Brereton, a friend of Marland who regularly helps on the farm, there was one day in the search that was especially difficult. No one had seen Chesney all day, and there were growing concerns he had moved farther into unfamiliar areas.
Later that night, Chesney was found resting beneath a tree in a wooded area, but despite being surrounded by searchers, he still managed to slip away. The next morning, Marland returned with Chesney’s favorite treats and items carrying the scent of her and Kenny — Chesney’s marsupial companion back at the farm.
As the team was preparing to give up for the day, Chesney suddenly reappeared. It was Brereton who coaxed the kangaroo into coming back.
“He had a very calm attitude when he walked up, obviously you could tell he wasn’t in fight-or-flight mode, so I just went with that,” Brereton said. “I just stayed calm with him and I just kind of went and sat and let him come to me.”
Brereton said Chesney seemed to respond to familiar voices and wanted attention. She ultimately picked up the 40-pound animal and believes the kangaroo recognized comforting voices and familiar scents of home.
Finding Chesney Was Community Effort That Spawned a Children’s Book
Marland noted that the community came together to help find Chesney, who has become something of a local celebrity. A supporter of Sunshine Farm has even written a children’s book about Chesney’s adventures, which Marland hopes to publish and sell to help cover the costs of the search.
“We have Chesney. We are on our way home. Stacy is a rockstar! Details to follow,” the farm posted in an update via Facebook.
Kenny was happy to have his companion back. Though Chesney was hungry and tired, he was otherwise in good health but is scheduled for a veterinary checkup. Chesney and Kenny are named for singer Kenny Chesney and are two of 25 animals who live at the farm.
For extra safety, Marland said they will install a mesh cover over the kangaroo enclosure to prevent any future escapes.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
