A group of clever and furry thieves are causing mischief at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, outsmarting campers and cottagers. The park’s manager, Sonnet McGuire, has received numerous reports since early July of shoes mysteriously disappearing. These shoes have been found scattered in bushes, along the roadside, and even at the boat launch, all thanks to a mischievous skulk of foxes with a penchant for footwear.
Although shoe theft by foxes is not unheard of at the park, this year’s incidents have been more frequent. McGuire mentioned that the park initially stored the lost shoes in the office but had to resort to outdoor storage bins due to the sheer volume of stolen footwear. McGuire estimated that over 100 shoes have passed through the bin this summer, with around 70 shoes present on a recent day.
The stolen shoes have turned into a campground scavenger hunt, with visitors stumbling upon their missing footwear in various locations. One amusing incident involved campers witnessing a fox lookout while its accomplice snatched a shoe from a campsite before both vanished into the woods.
Brenda Andres, a camper, shared her encounter with the thieving foxes, emphasizing the need to keep shoes indoors. Meanwhile, cottager Rachelle Kelln sees the situation as a playful game, despite finding multiple shoes on her property and nearby roads. Notably, expensive shoes like Adidas Sambas have also fallen victim to the foxes’ antics.
Despite the amusement surrounding the foxes’ antics, McGuire advises visitors to keep their shoes secured indoors to prevent further thefts. The foxy thieves continue to roam free, leaving behind a trail of missing footwear at the park.
