Map depicting Wisconsin as one of three states where it's easiest to own a kangaroo is accurate, sorta
A map floating around the internet shows Wisconsin as one of only three states where residents are allowed to legally own kangaroos without a permit.
Fact check: True, sorta.
There is no state law requiring a permit to own a kangaroo. Regulation is left to local governments, said Leeann Duwey, the public information officer for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Some places, like Janesville, have put a ban on owning some exotic animals, which includes kangaroos in Wisconsin.
And you do need a permit to bring kangaroos into the state. "Our responsibility is for the animal's health," Duwey said. "We make sure the animal comes in with a veterinary inspection then it's up to local governments."
The other two states that allow ownership without a permit are South Carolina and West Virginia. Ten states require a permit and it is illegal in 37 others, according to the map.
This is not Wisconsin's first hop around with kangaroos:
In 2017, a kangaroo named Joey escaped from its pen in Kenosha and wandered onto County Highway L.
Earlier this summer there were reports of one on Interstate 41 in Grand Chute.
Contact Keith Schubert at (414) 839-4211 or kschubert@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @keithsch94