Kangaroos in Logan County: Meet Arnold

CHAPMANVILLE, WV (WOWK) — Earlier this month, a kangaroo on the loose in Logan County went viral. It caused many concerns and raised questions about if you can even own a kangaroo in the state.

Kangaroos are legal in the state of West Virginia. In fact, the West Virginia State Code says kangaroos, wallabies, sugar gliders, capybara and porcupines are all legal without permits in the state.

Jamie Evans and Brandy Jones, owners of Critters Cottage in Chapmanville, own two kangaroos. They brought one, Arnold, to meet with 13 News Reporter Riley McIlmoyle .

Arnold, however, was not the kangaroo spotted along the road earlier this month.

Evans and Jones told 13 News that having a kangaroo is just like having any other animal. They shared that they also have dogs, horses and a zebra.

“He’s attached to us as his people and to us, it’s just another other baby for us to love,” said Jones.

The two kangaroos Evans and Jones own were both bottle-fed and were never exposed to the wild.

“It’s a kangaroo,” said Evans. “It don’t have fangs, it has rabbit teeth,” Evans said.

“They aren’t ever truly wild. It’s not like they’re going out and poaching getting these guys out of the wild,” said Jones.

When it comes to other exotic animals that are legal in West Virginia , the Division of Natural Resources is in charge of the permission permits to buy and own such animals

Since the incident earlier this month, a kangaroo crossing sign has been put up near Mud Fork Road.

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