Clever and furry culprits are outsmarting campers and vacationers at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, situated approximately 50 kilometers north of Prince Albert. Sonnet McGuire, the park’s manager, has been receiving reports since early July of missing shoes. The visitors have been discovering lone shoes abandoned in bushes, on roadsides, and even at the boat launch, all courtesy of a group of crafty foxes with a penchant for footwear.

McGuire mentioned that while this behavior isn’t new, this year has seen an increase in the activities of these thieves. Initially, the lost shoes were stored in the campground office, but due to the escalating number of incidents, outdoor storage bins had to be utilized to accommodate the growing collection of stolen footwear. McGuire estimated that around 70 shoes were in the bin on a recent day, with over 100 likely passing through it during the summer.

The park has turned into a sort of scavenger hunt, with visitors stumbling upon misplaced shoes as they wander around the grounds. There have been instances where individuals spotted foxes collaborating to pilfer shoes, with one acting as a lookout while the other snatched a shoe before they both fled the scene.

One camper, Brenda Andres, shared her encounter with the shoe-stealing foxes, emphasizing the need to keep shoes indoors during camping trips. Meanwhile, cottager Rachelle Kelln, residing near Emma Lake, described the situation as a fun game, despite finding multiple shoes on her property since early July.

Kelln discovered various types of shoes, including flip flops, Birkenstocks, and Adidas Sambas, with some owners expressing relief upon reclaiming their expensive footwear. McGuire advised park visitors to safeguard their shoes indoors to prevent further incidents as the mischievous foxes continue their thieving spree.