Clever and furry bandits are outsmarting campers and vacationers at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park near Prince Albert. Sonnet McGuire, the park’s manager, started receiving complaints about missing shoes in early July. Visitors discovered solitary shoes abandoned in various locations like bushes, roadsides, and the boat launch area. The culprits behind these thefts are a group of crafty foxes, sometimes referred to as a skulk, with a penchant for footwear.
According to McGuire, while this behavior is not new, the foxes are displaying more activity this year. Initially, the park stored the misplaced shoes inside the campground office, but due to the increasing number, they had to upgrade to outdoor storage bins. McGuire mentioned that on a recent day, the bin contained around 70 shoes, suspecting that over 100 shoes have gone through it this summer. She described the situation as resembling a scavenger hunt in the campground, with people stumbling upon missing shoes while strolling around.
Camper Brenda Andres recounted an encounter with the thieving foxes, observing one carrying a shoe in its mouth. To avoid falling victim, she plans to keep her shoes indoors during her camping trip. Meanwhile, cottager Rachelle Kelln finds the foxes’ antics amusing, considering it a fun game. Living near Emma Lake, her property has become a popular spot for the foxes to deposit stolen shoes. Kelln has discovered multiple shoes on her premises and nearby roads, including various types like flip flops, Birkenstocks, and Adidas Sambas.
Although some of the shoes were pricey, Kelln has had several individuals reclaim their footwear, expressing joy at being reunited with their belongings. McGuire advised park visitors to safeguard their shoes indoors since the mischievous foxes will continue their thieving spree.
