FOX6 Web Fix: Panda missing from zoo FOUND

(CNN) -- A red panda that escaped the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington was found in a man's backyard!

Rusty, who is about the size of a raccoon, was discovered missing from his enclosure Monday morning, June 24th.

Zoo officials posted a message on Twitter for everyone to be on the lookout.

The Washington Post reports someone spotted the fugitive bear in the yard of a nearby home and called the zoo.

The homeowner says he came back to see several people on his property.

"I came like from having lunch with a friend and then I saw saw people with nets and police cars and everything and I asked what was going on and they told me that there was an animal apparently was seen in the back of my house so I offered to let them in the house to see if they could spot him and apparently they did," homeowner Eirk Alda said.

Rusty was taken to the vet for a checkup to make sure he is okay.

The animal is new to the National Zoo. He arrived in April on loan from a zoo in Nebraska.