The search continues for Rowdy the kangaroo, who escaped from his enclosure and was last spotted near a truck stop off I-10 in Sealy early Wednesday morning.
Rowdy, a 5-foot-tall, 70-pound kangaroo, was last seen at 4:15 a.m. near a truck stop off I-10 and Pyka Road, according to his owner, Marsha Matus.
“When I came outside and saw his empty enclosure, it was devastating. We just want him back,” Matus said.
Despite efforts by neighbors and social media posts, Rowdy has yet to be found.
“We bottle-fed him as a baby, and he’s been part of our family ever since,” Matus said. “He’s not aggressive and won’t hurt anyone, but he’s scared and won’t come to strangers.”
The thick fog and wet conditions on Wednesday morning likely allowed Rowdy to push open the gate to his enclosure and jump over the backyard fence.
“He’s very routine-driven, and this is completely out of character for him,” she said. “We’re heartbroken and just want him home.”
Rowdy’s disappearance has drawn significant attention from the Sealy community and beyond.
“Kangaroos are nocturnal,” Matus explained. “He’s likely to be more active in the early morning and at night, so that’s the best time to look for him.”
Matus shared that Rowdy has been with her family for three years and was raised from a joey after being bottle-fed.
READ MORE: Hall of famer Houston Texans Andre Johnson surprises superfans to spread holiday cheer
While she is hopeful for his safe return, she expressed concern that he might wander too far from familiar areas.
“Rowdy knows my voice and will come to me,” Matus said. “We just need someone to see him and let us know where he is.”
Matus has asked anyone who spots Rowdy to contact her, the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, or the Department of Public Safety.