JUPITER FARMS, Fla. _ Seven kangaroos at a Jupiter Farms sanctuary were removed Friday after state wildlife officers found "deficiencies" in their enclosure. Storm, the 5-year-old kangaroo that was missing for more than two days after he escaped Monday, is included.
The kangaroos were moved to an undisclosed temporary licensed facility, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement spokesman Robert Klepper told The Palm Beach Post.
Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office were asked by FWC to stand by, sheriff's office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.
Eric Westergard's facility was last inspected in November 2016 and he was up to code, Klepper said. He did not specify the deficiencies, but said Westergard is working "on rectifying the fencing and caging issues that were identified during the inspection subsequent to Storm's escape."
The authorities will hold onto the animals until the improvements are made, he said.
Westergard was not immediately available for comment.
Klepper added that captive wildlife violations involving enclosure issues could be considered second-degree misdemeanors. A judge can issue a $500 fine or a maximum of 60 days in jail.
FWC officers are inspecting the enclosures of all animals on site.
Storm slipped out of Westergard's Jupiter Farms sanctuary Monday night and roamed the rural area west of Jupiter until searchers spotted the marsupial in the predawn hours Thursday. They celebrated his homecoming and Westergard planned improvements to make sure the kangaroo would not escape again.
