May 12, 2009:
North Chittenango, Madison County (WSYR-TV) – Folks all over Central New York just can’t get enough of one-year-old Bandit, the missing wallaroo. T-shirts have been made for folks who are looking for him, or just big fans. The international spotlight is also on the search. In the last week, his owner, Jeff Taylor has gotten calls from all over the world. The story of his little creature has made it on to CNN and ABC, as well as papers in Australia. While the story is everywhere, little Bandit is still hopping around in North Chittenango. The last sighting was at around 7:00 Tuesday night. He was spotted by some neighbors. “He was just laying there, relaxing. They say he didn’t bounce off fast, just got up slowly and hopped off.” Taylor said. The new plan is to get Bandit to a smaller area where Taylor can get him safely. Bandit is supposed to be part of a traveling wildlife program. A trap is also set up on the other side of Taylor’s property near the Thruway, where Bandit has been spotted several times. Instead of posters, T-shirts with his description are being sold. Taylor says funding will go towards the Golisano Children’s Hospital, and will also pay for construction for the exhibit where Bandit will be housed.
Where can you buy a T-shirt?
Ack’s Exotic Pets
8081 Brewerton Rd
Cicero, NY 13039 Blue Barbeque
249 E Genesee
Chittenango, NY 13037 Dad’s Ice Cream
7562 Lakeport Rd
Chittenango, NY; 13037 McGowan’s Hardware
991 E Genesee St
Chittenango, NY 13037 Top Stitch
1328 State Route 5
Chittenango, NY 13037 Also available by mail:
Send check or money order for $10 plus $3 for shipping and handling to:
2001 New Boston Road
Chittenango, NY 13037 List the shirt size on check, and make it payable to The Wild Animal Experience.
May 11, 2009:
Wallaroo sightings: Bandit spotted twice Monday
Canastota (WSYR-TV) – The owner of Bandit, the missing wallaroo, says the animal was spotted twice Monday morning in the Canastota and Chittenango areas. Jeff Taylor, Bandit’s owner, says the missing marsupial was spotted along the New York State Thruway around 6am, and was in his driveway at 7:30am. By the time Taylor assembled people to come over and assist him, Bandit had bounded off into the woods. The three-foot-tall animal, similar to a kangaroo, escaped from a petting zoo and wildlife education program zoo run by Taylor, of Chittenango; it has been spotted in various locations around the Village of Canastota. Taylor is desperate for someone licensed to use a tranquilizer gun to come and assist him. If you do spot Bandit, give state police a call at 366-6000.
Wallaroo sightings reported
May 9, 2009
Canastota (WSYR-TV) - The owner of Bandit the wallaroo is sending out a plea to people to avoid approaching the missing marsupial. Jeff Taylor tells us people have sighted the animal Saturday morning, and have been pulling over along the Thruway to try to catch it, which is scaring the animal away. The best course of action if you do spot Bandit is to contact state police at 366-6000. The three foot tall animal which looks like a kangaroo has been missing for nearly a month after escaping from a petting zoo and educational facility. Taylor says he's confident Bandit will be captured, if people simply leave the animal alone. A trap was set up at an undisclosed location near Taylor's property, but so far Bandit has proven to be elusive.
Owner searching for missing Wallaroo
May 8, 2009
Canastota (WSYR-TV) – Folks in Madison County remain on the lookout for a missing wallaroo; the kangaroo-like animal has been on the run for the past month. The three-foot-tall animal escaped from a petting zoo and wildlife education program zoo run by Jeff Taylor, of Chittenango; it has been spotted in various locations around the Village of Canastota. State police said Taylor tried to capture the one-year-old animal, but was unable to. Police said they received a report from a Thruway driver shortly after noon Wednesday that there was a wallaroo about 100 feet away from the Thruway near Exit 34 in Canastota. Late Thursday, Taylor told NewsChannel 9 he had put out a trap to try and catch the wallaroo, which he has nicknamed Bandit. He wouldn’t say exactly where the trap was located, but said he is using food to try and lure the animal. Taylor says it takes awhile for human scent to wear off, so it may take a bit before the animal feels safe to explore the trap area. Taylor says he believes someone may have deliberately unlocked the animal's cage about five weeks ago, and the animal has been missing ever since. "Right now, it's the perfect temperature and climate for him," Taylor says. "He's from Australia. We have lush grass, there's plenty of food, so he seems to be surviving quite well." If you see the wallaroo, you are asked to call state police at 366-6000. Taylor says the wallaroo is not a danger to people, but you should not approach it because it will scare easily.
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