Overview
- Chesney fled Sunshine Farm in Necedah after stray dogs spooked him, clearing an eight-foot fence and roaming nearby woods.
- Staff and local residents coordinated a rolling search that pooled sighting tips, favorite treats, and fabric carrying familiar scents.
- Thermal drones using heat-detecting cameras located his signature at night in dense trees, which let searchers close in without a chase.
- Rescuer Stacy Brereton calmly sat and let the 16-month-old, 40-pound joey approach before securing him, and staff said he returned hungry and tired but healthy.
- Sunshine Farm plans to add a mesh top to the enclosure to stop future jumps, and the episode revives questions about containment after a different kangaroo escaped in 2025.