By rssfeeds-admin 
The kangaroo — named Sheila — had escaped from the private enclosure of her longtime caretaker, Patrick Starr, in Auburn. Sheila was eventually captured safely in Macon County. Starr, who owns Choctafaula, an agricultural tourism destination in Auburn, says Sheila is not part of the park but a personal animal — and a beloved member of his family.
“She’s not one of the animals at Choctafaula — she’s family,” Starr said. “I’ve had different kangaroos probably starting 13, 14 years ago, and I love them. They’re like your kids.”
As soon as Starr realized Sheila had escaped, he quickly contacted his zoological veterinarian, alerted Auburn University’s veterinary team, and notified local law enforcement. Within no time, Sheila found her way to one of the busiest roadways in southeast —Interstate 85 — and she certainly got noticed. Motorists immediately began calling 911 and reporting the kangaroo sighting, triggering a swift multi-agency response. Within minutes, Alabama State Troopers, Macon County deputies, and even a Game and Fish truck were on scene — working to keep drivers and the animal safe.
Denver VanDeventer was headed home from a work inspection when he captured the moment on video.
“I was driving down I-85 when everyone suddenly started slamming on their brakes,” VanDeventer said. “There were flashing lights everywhere — troopers, a Game and Fish truck. I didn’t know what was going on, then I looked up and said, ‘Oh, that’s a kangaroo,’ and hit the brakes again. I followed it at about five miles an hour and got the video.”
Another incredible video shared by Matt Knox shows Sheila darting into traffic and leaping onto the hood of a yellow car before sliding off and hopping away. Thankfully, the driver slowed down, and no one — including the kangaroo — was hurt.
Both northbound and southbound lanes of I-85 were temporarily shut down while ALEA Troopers, local law enforcement, and Starr worked together to safely recover Sheila. After being darted and safely transported, Sheila was returned to her enclosure where a team of Auburn University veterinarians awaited to care for Sheila as she started to wake up.
“She immediately started munching,” Starr said. “That’s always a great sign — if an animal starts eating and is bright and alert. The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was go check on her and everybody else — and everybody was great.”
Sheila is now being monitored closely by veterinarians from Auburn University. Starr says she is eating hay and resting comfortably, and although she’s famous now, she’s been given time to settle back into her routine.
Starr is grateful for the calm cooperation from the public and law enforcement, saying the outcome could have been very different without their help.
“Somebody said, ‘Seeing a kangaroo on Interstate 85 was not on my 2025 bingo card.’ It was definitely the best-case scenario, and I’m just so thankful to everybody who was involved, said Starr.
Sheila is now back in her enclosure, surrounded by familiar kangaroo companions. Srarr shared this picture of Shelia on Wednesday morning with WRBL. The next few days Shelia needs to rest.
“A lot of people have reached out. They would love to see her and meet her in person,” Starr said. “But right now, the most important thing is to keep her in a stress-free environment without a lot of human interaction.”
Shelia had enough excitement Wednesday on Interstate 85. Still, Starr says because of all the attention Sheila may now be “the most famous kangaroo in the Southeast” — and says once she’s rested and ready, he is hopeful her fans may be visit.
Starr’s Choctafaula has been a destination for wildlife enthusiasts and students since 2020. As a key part of the park’s mission, Starr focuses on conservation efforts and educational outreach, giving children and visitors the opportunity to engage with exotic animals and learn about environmental preservation.
Discover more from RSS Feeds Cloud
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.