Virginia Kangaroo Leads Dogs Away to Save Her Baby

When deputies got a call about a kangaroo blocking traffic in the snow, they had no idea they were responding to one of nature's most powerful displays of maternal love.

Early Saturday morning in Nelson County, Virginia, a pack of dogs broke into a wildlife refuge in Arrington and threatened a mother kangaroo's baby. Without hesitation, the mom made a split-second decision that likely saved her joey's life.

She jumped the fence, deliberately dropped her baby in a safe spot, and took off running to draw the dogs away. Her plan worked. The pack followed her, leaving the joey protected.

Deputies found her hours later at the intersection of Thomas Nelson Highway and Oak Ridge Road. She was hopping through ice and snow, leaving a trail of blood from her injured feet. The freezing temperatures made the situation even more dangerous for both the kangaroo and drivers on the slippery roads.

Catching a frightened, injured kangaroo proved harder than anyone expected. Deputy Robert Richardson admitted even a lasso probably wouldn't have worked. "You get out of the car and she's already across the field," he said.

With help from Conservation Police Officer Andrew Sundra of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, deputies finally cornered the exhausted mother in a resident's yard. Her owner arrived to safely tranquilize her and transport her back to the sanctuary.

Sunny's Take

The reunion between mother and baby made the rescue complete. After everything she endured to protect her joey, the brave kangaroo is expected to make a full recovery surrounded by her little one.

The Nelson County Sheriff's Office confirmed both animals are doing well. In a heartwarming twist, the kangaroo is now scheduled to make a guest appearance at the sheriff's office Chili Cookoff and Touch-a-Truck event on March 14.

Sometimes the greatest acts of courage come from the unlikeliest heroes on the coldest days.