Missouri kangaroo loose: Roofus spotted near Aquila, still uncaught
Roofus escaped from a Bloomfield property Friday and was seen Tuesday near Aquila, owner Dawn McClard told UPI.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A Missouri kangaroo loose since Friday popped back into view Tuesday morning when a FedEx driver reported seeing the animal near Aquila, according to UPI and owner Dawn McClard.
The kangaroo, named Roofus, had not been captured after the latest sighting, UPI reported. McClard said the driver saw a kangaroo crossing Highway 25 at the entrance to Aquila, an unincorporated community in the Bloomfield area.
Roofus escaped from McClard’s Bloomfield property Friday morning, she told UPI. McClard said the kangaroo bolted after being frightened by an excavator her husband, Chuck McClard, was using while working on the property.
Where was the loose Missouri kangaroo seen?
McClard said a possible sighting came Sunday morning in a field near Aquila. Another report followed Tuesday morning, when the FedEx driver said a kangaroo crossed Highway 25 at the community’s entrance, according to UPI.
The sightings have given the searchers fresh places to look, but Roofus has remained hard to pin down. McClard said the couple has used a thermal drone while searching the area.
A thermal drone detects heat signatures rather than relying only on a normal camera view. In a search for an animal, that can help spot a warm body in fields or brush, though UPI reported Roofus still had not been caught.
How did Roofus get away?
McClard told UPI the escape happened Friday morning on the couple’s property in Bloomfield. She said the kangaroo was scared by the excavator, then got loose.
The case has drawn attention because the animal has now been missing for several days and has apparently moved through rural spots around Aquila. UPI reported the Tuesday sighting as the clearest new development after the earlier possible report on Sunday.
- Animal: Roofus the kangaroo
- Owner: Dawn McClard of Bloomfield, Missouri
- Escape: Friday morning, after an excavator startled the animal, McClard said
- Search tool: A thermal drone, according to McClard
- Latest reported sighting: Tuesday morning at Highway 25 near Aquila, according to UPI
What should people do if they see Roofus?
McClard said Roofus is not dangerous and is likely afraid, UPI reported. She asked anyone who spots him to get in touch and report where the kangaroo was seen.
As of UPI’s report Tuesday, the wandering kangaroo had resurfaced, but the chase was not over. Roofus was still loose in Missouri, with his owners relying on sightings to narrow the search.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.