Kangaroo or a monkey? North Texas officers find exotic animal in sweltering heat; search for owners underway

You don't see this every day! The North Richland Hills Police Department is searching for the owners of an exotic animal after it was discovered roaming outside a business.

The department said on Thursday afternoon that its officers responded to Rufe Snow Drive and Loop 820 after several calls about a kangaroo or monkey taking shade in the sweltering heat.

When officers arrived, they found the small mammal, known as a kinkajou, notably hot and thirsty. Three officers worked to capture the mammal safely.

Then, NRH Animal Services arrived and took the mammal in to help it recover.

Police said they are working to find the owners, and animal services is working to locate a place that can give the kinkajou specialized care.

What is a kinkajou?

According to the San Diego Zoo, a kinkajou is a tree-dwelling mammal that is native to tropical rainforests from southern Mexico through Brazil.

Commonly called the "honey bear," kinkajous raid beehives and have quite the sweet tooth. Most of their diet consists of fruit and nectar.

They belong to the raccoon family and are also nocturnal, which makes them difficult to watch and study, experts say.

They typically weigh about 4 to 7 pounds with a body length of 17 to 22 inches.