Law enforcement in northeast Ohio has a conundrum on their hands after a wallaby was spotted on multiple occasions roaming around town.
Police in Stark County initially thought the rogue animal was a small kangaroo. But on Sunday, Brewster Police said they "can confirm" that the animal is a wallaby -- which belongs to the kangaroo family but is much smaller.
The wallaby initially went on the lam sometime after August 8, according to WKYC. The North Lawrence Fire Department reported that the animal was first spotted near State Route 241 and Alabama Avenue.
On August 11, the animal was spotted again near State Route 241 in Stark County, WOIO reported.
The animal was finally captured on video on August 13 -- the last known sighting. A couple driving along State Route 93 and Elton Street recorded the wallaby hopping across the road.
The video prompted police to issue a warning to the public, urging them not to approach the wallaby if they encounter the animal.
"The Brewster Police Department has received several calls of a Wallaby being observed in the Village and Surrounding Areas. We ask people to refrain from looking for the animal or entering on properties of another to locate the animal," Brewster Police said.
While sightings of the wallaby have increased, police have not been able to capture the animal.
Anyone who spots the wallaby is asked to contact law enforcement and try to keep sight of the animal until authorities arrive. Officials do not believe the wallaby is violent but it may react aggressively if it feels threatened, so it should not be confronted.
"We do have a professional team coming in to assist in capturing the animal safely and relocate it in a safe environment," police said.
Officials have not said where the wallaby came from or how it escaped, and no nearby zoos have reported a missing wallaby.
According to AZ Animals, Ohio is one of 13 states where it is legal to own a kangaroo or wallaby, though some cities may prohibit the animals or require a permit to keep one as a pet. No such ordinance exists in Brewster.
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