Rescuers Surprised By Mystery Critter Rescued Off Side Of Highway
J. Swanson
Photo: Deputies made a startling discovery last week when they rescued a mystery animal from on the side of the highway in Katy, Texas. The enigmatic critter looked like an amalgam of a deer, dog, and a rabbit, but it could dig, run, and jump seven feet in the air.
Photo: The little critter was clearly lost, but it’s inscrutable origins also meant officers weren’t sure where the animal was supposed to be.
Finally, upon a tip from the missing animal’s owner, officers belatedly realized what they were looking at. The mystery creature was somebody’s pet Patagonian Mara, also known as a Dillaby, a plant-eating member of the rodent family that lives in Argentina.
Photo: "[Patagonian maras] somewhat resemble a cross between a rabbit and a small deer," the constable’s office explained on Facebook. "They have small, compressed feet that make them resemble hooves from a distance and longer ears resembling those of a rabbit."
Photo: Apparently, the critter retained a sense of good humor throughout the ordeal, which included getting lost, found, and then sent to the local Humane Society for a check-up, just in case.
Photo: Before long, officers had nicknamed this “friendly little fella” Jimmy before bringing him back home. Sounds like Jimmy had a great adventure exploring Katy, Texas, but we're so happy he's been reunited with his owner!
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