A TERRIFYING encounter with an injured and aggressive male kangaroo left a local resident shaken last Saturday morning and another with some injuries.

Beechworth’s Kat Beaton had been on a run along the track around the golf course’s large dam in Balaclava, Havelock and Alma Roads’ bushy area without her mobile phone.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

Running around the corner she came across the hostile kangaroo around five metres away.

“It had a cut and was bleeding from its ear when I encountered it,” Kat said.

Shocked to see the reared up wild animal, Kat said she had to shelter behind a large tree and grabbed a stick for protection as it ran after her.

Kat, without her phone, yelled and flagged down help from Jason West as he drove past.

Her rescuer attempted to scare away the animal, but was attacked, sustaining some injuries and also became trapped.

Police arrived in a four-wheel drive and managed to scare the animal away.

“The kangaroo was there for nearly an hour before the police were able to move it on,” Kat said.

Kat reported the incident to Wildlife Victoria, when they said the behaviour was unusual with the injury a possible cause for the animal’s aggression.

Wildlife Australia chief executive officer, Lisa Palmer, said kangaroos are gentle animals and in normal situations will not exhibit aggressive behaviour towards people.

“Their natural “fight or flight” response is to flee rather than attack,” she said.

Ms Palmer said like all native animals, they perceive humans as threats and it seemed in this situation, the kangaroo may have also been unable to hop away quickly enough to feel safe.

“Some common signs that a kangaroo might feel threatened include growling and head shaking,” she said.

“While in kangaroo habitat, Wildlife Australia advise to remain at a safe distance and if a sick, injured, orphaned or distressed kangaroo is encountered, back away and call Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300 for assistance.

“We also ask that the community keep an eye out for this injured kangaroo and to call us if spotted so the appropriate care can be provided.”

Beechworth Wildlife Shelter’s Sue Hiatt and Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter’s Gayle Elliott both agreed the behaviour was unusual.

Sue said it might have been the same kangaroo in the local cemetery grounds for the last three months.

“We’ve been watching it and it disappeared last Thursday,” she said.

"We don't know where this kangaroo is now."

Sue also said for anyone experiencing trouble with kangaroos, stay away from them and call Wildlife Victoria.

“They will organise a rescuer and we can then deal with it,” she said.

Sue said older male kangaroos are often kicked out of the mob by younger males and living on their own.

“By building more homes in areas kangaroos are losing their habitat and being landlocked too," she said.