Wild Kangaroo Escape Creates Chaos on Wisconsin Highway

If you've ever driven I-39 near Portage, Wisconsin, you probably never expected to see kangaroos jumping along the highway, but that is exactly what drivers saw on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

As a northern Illinois resident with a family cabin located in central Wisconsin, I've driven the stretch of I-39 near Portage more times than I can ever begin to count.

I've seen broken- down cars, people hitchhiking, deer running across the road on I-39, but I can honestly say I've never seen, or even expected to see, a kangaroo hopping along the interstate.

Sadly, that's exactly what happened on Sunday, August 23 near mile marker 85, and this story has a heartbreaking ending.

According to WISN 12 News:

Officials said a total of four kangaroos escaped a trailer while their owner was stopped near the interstate. The owner, officials said, was transferring the animals between vehicles.

The Wisconsin State Patrol responded after the animals got loose, but the situation quickly turned tragic, and two of the kangaroos were struck and killed by vehicles.

The third kangaroo was eventually captured by the owner, but as I write this, the fourth kangaroo is still on the loose.

I know accidents happen, and I can't imagine what it must have been like for drivers suddenly encountering a kangaroo on a Wisconsin interstate, but I also can't help thinking about those poor animals.

Where did the animals come from? Where were they being taken? How scared were they to find themselves in an unfamiliar environment with vehicles flying past them at high speeds?

I'm especially worried about the kangaroo that is still missing. Hopefully, it is somewhere safe, hiding away from the highway, and can be rescued soon.

If you find yourself in Wisconsin soon and encounter a kangaroo along a highway or in the woods, please contact the Wisconsin State Patrol immediately, and do not try to capture it on your own!