Loss of habitat blamed for kangaroo breaking into home and causing havoc

'They do get into trouble in suburbia where we’ve got urban areas expanding into the fields where they live'

The kangaroo was treated for its wounds and is now recovering in an animal shelter (Five Freedoms Animal Rescue)

A kangaroo broke into a family home and left it looking "like a scene from the movie Psycho", according to a wildlife rescuer who took in the creature.

Manfred Zabinskas who has named the marsupial "Norman Bates" after the famous character from Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, said habitat loss could be among the factors behind its behaviour.

After entering the home in Melbourne, Australia, the creature smashed windows and destroyed things in the property.

In doing so, it suffered cuts to its paws and legs and left a trail of blood through the house. Eventually the family, who were unhurt, were able to lock the marsupial in the bathroom.

Manfred Zabinskas, an animal rescuer who came to recover the wounded kangaroo, told The Independent that the loss of the animals’ habitats to residential areas could be one of the reasons behind the break-in.

Mr Zanbinzkas named Norman Bates “because the house looked like a scene from the movie Psycho” was now in care at the Five Freedoms Animal Rescue’ shelter after being treated for his wounds.

“Norman is still in care at our licensed wildlife shelter and is having some trouble settling in,” he said. “Each kangaroo is different and some take longer than others to settle down and come to terms with captivity while they receive care and treatment.”

The family locked the kangaroo in the bathroom after it caused havoc in their home (Five Freedoms Animal Rescue)

The panicked kangaroo left a trail of blood throughout the home (Five Freedoms Animal Rescue)

In a separate interview with the BBC, he said the kangaroo may have been alarmed by a dog or passing car before he crashed into the house.

“He would have been in a complete panic and in desperation just run in the path of what would have looked like a passage home, and just gone through the window,” he said. “They do get into trouble in suburbia where we’ve got urban areas expanding into the fields where they live.”