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Neighbors search for escaped pet kangaroo in Tennessee
Ollie, a one-year-old kangaroo, was reportedly spotted fifteen miles away near Columbia before being found safe on the same road he escaped from; no permit required.
Watch it as it aired: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:52 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are UPI's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by UPI: “Neighbors searching for escaped kangaroo in Tennessee”, with reporting from WKRN, WSMV and Hoodline.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:52 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Tennessee.
- BBN covered this story before: Small-town storytelling festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee (October 20).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- UPINeighbors searching for escaped kangaroo in Tennessee
- WKRN‘Bring that baby home’: Pet kangaroo gets loose in Maury County October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
- WSMVPet kangaroo on the loose in Mount Pleasant October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
- HoodlinePet Kangaroo Ollie Missing Near Mount Pleasant, Tennessee October 21, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA one-year-old pet kangaroo named Ollie bolted from a property in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, just as his owners were about to take him on his daily walk, UPI reports.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHis daily walk. He has a schedule. And apparently the Maury County Sheriff's Office got a call about it.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWSMV says he was spotted about fifteen miles away, near Columbia, before the sightings moved back toward Mount Pleasant.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFifteen miles out and then back again? That's a kangaroo changing his mind halfway down the A-road.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd in Tennessee a kangaroo is Class III wildlife, so the owners need no permit to keep one.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNo permit. So the only record of a fifteen-mile fugitive is a neighbor with a phone. Nobody even got his name.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe was found safe on Mack Benderman Road. The same road he got loose from.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo he's a shy, timid animal who ran off for a day, then came home tired and hungry. Same.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNeighbors spotted him at the end of the road and called the owners. Fifteen miles, and he's still on Mack Benderman Road.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo the owners owe him the daily walk. He's done it.
More Shorts
All videos →The story so far
- Saturday's slate: Alabama at Tennessee, plus Hurts worry in the NFL · ESPN
- Tennessee violates SEC policy with field storm, fine paid to Alabama · Yahoo Sports
- Tennessee fined $500,000 after fans storm field vs Alabama · Fox News
- Small-town storytelling festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee · Washington Examiner
- Neighbors search for escaped pet kangaroo in Tennessee (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 23, 2026 · the Weird News archive · all months


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