Clever and furry thieves are outsmarting visitors at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park by swiping their shoes. Sonnet Mcguire, the park manager situated around 50 kilometers north of Prince Albert, started receiving reports of missing shoes in early July. Single shoes were discovered in various places like bushes, roadsides, and the boat launch area, all thanks to a group of cunning foxes with a penchant for footwear.
According to Mcguire, the park has five foxes roaming around the campground, actively indulging in the shoe-stealing spree. While this behavior is not new, the frequency of thefts has escalated this year. Initially, lost shoes were stored in the campground office, but due to the increasing number, outdoor storage bins were brought in to accommodate the plethora of stolen shoes.
Mcguire mentioned that the outdoor bins were filled with approximately 70 shoes on a recent day, estimating that over 100 shoes have gone through the bin this summer. The campground has turned into a scavenger hunt as visitors stumble upon missing shoes while exploring the area. One anecdote shared involved witnesses observing foxes collaborating in the theft, with one acting as a lookout while the other snatched a shoe from a campsite before fleeing.
Camper Brenda Andres recounted a similar encounter, witnessing a fox carrying a shoe across the road. She emphasized the need to keep shoes indoors during camping trips to avoid falling victim to the furry culprits. Meanwhile, cottager Rachelle Kelln embraced the foxes’ antics, considering it a fun game. Residing near Emma Lake, Kelln has collected multiple shoes on her property and along the roadside since mid-July, including various brands like flip flops, Birkenstocks, and Adidas Sambas.
Despite the amusement some find in the situation, Mcguire advised park visitors to safeguard their shoes indoors as the mischievous foxes continue their thieving escapades.