Watch: Wandering kinkajou rescued from outside Texas business
Police in North Richland Hills, Texas, rescued a wandering kinkajou Thursday after callers reported an unusual animal—possibly a monkey or small kangaroo—trying to escape the summer heat behind a trash can outside a Mod Pizza. The exotic native of Central and South America suffered burns on its paws from hot concrete before wildlife handlers took over. Anyone looking to watch the wandering kinkajou rescued can follow UPI's Aug. 24, 2026 Odd News coverage for the latest details.
Key Takeaways
- North Richland Hills police responded Thursday to reports of a strange animal outside a Mod Pizza location.
- The animal was identified as a kinkajou, a rainforest mammal native to Central and South America also known as a "honey bear."
- The kinkajou had burns on its paws from hot concrete while seeking shade from Texas summer heat.
- It was taken to the North Richland Hills Animal Services Center, then transferred to Nature's Edge Wildlife and Reptile Rescue.
- Authorities have not yet determined how the kinkajou ended up wandering in Texas.
What is a kinkajou and why was it in Texas?
Kinkajous are small, tree-dwelling mammals found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Also called "honey bears," they are sometimes mistaken for monkeys because of their big eyes and prehensile tails, but they are actually more closely related to raccoons, according to UPI.
How this particular kinkajou arrived in North Richland Hills remains unknown. Police said the animal's origins have not yet been determined. Stories like this regularly appear in Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage when unexpected animals turn up in everyday places.
How did North Richland Hills police rescue the animal?
Officers were dispatched Thursday after someone reported an unusual creature that looked like it might be a monkey or a small kangaroo. They found the kinkajou behind a trash can outside a Mod Pizza, where it was trying to shelter from the blazing summer heat.
The hot pavement had taken a toll. The rescued animal had burns on its paws from the hot concrete, UPI reported. Police took it to the North Richland Hills Animal Services Center for initial care.
Where is the kinkajou now?
After its stop at the municipal animal services center, the kinkajou was transferred to Nature's Edge Wildlife and Reptile Rescue. That handoff placed the animal with specialists equipped to handle wildlife cases beyond what a city shelter typically manages.
Until investigators trace its origins, the case stands as one of the stranger animal-rescue calls Texas police have fielded this summer—a heat-stricken rainforest mammal found huddled behind a pizza-shop trash can.