'He's Still A Baby,' Missing Wallaby's Owner Says

MONEE, IL — A family is desperate to find its missing wallaby, days after it got out of their Monee yard.

Owner Josie Hange said "Rupert" is not yet 2 years old, and is trained to be an indoor pet at their home in a gated community on Manhattan-Monee Road near the Amazon facility.

The 2-foot tall creature weighing approximately 45 pounds is "incredibly smart," she said, but will be very frightened and skittish outside.

"Being out on his own for two nights now, he might run," she added. "He's never been alone, never been by himself."

Will County Animal Control is asking people to keep an eye out for Rupert. Josie discourages anyone from approaching or trying to chase him, fearing it might cause him to flee.

Rupert's owners have been receiving tips throughout Thursday, but Josie questions the validity of many of them. They're no closer to bringing Rupert home.

"I don’t know how much of it I can believe," she said.

She and each member of her family hold licenses to own an animal of this kind, she said. Hange has always loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian; she's owned a variety of animals, from the more typical to the exotic.

When outside for short periods of time in a stint, Rupert is always supervised. He wears a harness while in the house, but Hange had taken it off the day he went missing. He was outside, in a pen near the pool for a short time, when he somehow escaped.

She urges people not to chase or try to catch him, knowing that his behavior might be unpredictable while in fight or flight mode.

"They're very intelligent, and vocally limited," she said. "I don’t put anything past instinct kicking in."

Anyone who spots Rupert should try to take a picture or video, and call or text (708)710-3148.