Sneaky foxes steal shoes, gloves and toys from Emma Lake campers

Residents and visitors to the Emma Lake area are literally getting outfoxed by some sneaky thieves.

Four red foxes and one silver fox are responsible for stealing all sorts of footwear, as well as oven mitts, work gloves and dog toys. The goods are later found along walking trails.

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Linda MacDonald has lived in the area for 42 years and goes for daily walks near Murray Point. She told paNOW she has come across dozens of shoes.

“Yesterday when I walked, I think there were eight [shoes]. Like, you need a bag to take them to the front gate,” she said.

Tracy Pitt and her family spent the Canada Day long weekend at Murray Point. A sly fox stole both her daughter’s and husband’s Crocs and one of her daughters’ sandals. They later found them by the sewage dump at the exit.

“First we thought we were just missing one Croc, so we all looked all over for it, under the camper and inside. My kids are always leaving their shoes places, so I thought they somehow left one behind. Then when we found two more of ours way over by the exit, we figured it out and thought it was funny. We biked for ice cream and caught that sly fox running around with someone’s work gloves in his mouth.”

Meanwhile, Randeen Tomiak is still looking for one of her son’s two black Nike sandals.

“He was pretty annoyed to have to wear running shoes for the last couple of weeks since we weren’t making any trips into town anytime soon, but half laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing sounds. We are hoping to discover them in the lost and found soon,” she explained.

Park manager Sonnet McGuire said the theft activity started in early July. To help reconnect people with their stolen goods, staff have set up two collection boxes.

Emma Lake staff are about to set up a third collection box for items that have been found. (Submitted/Linda MacDonald)

“And we are going to start a third because the collections continue to grow with the amount of shoes and items that are being shyly removed from campsites.”

McGuire added that the whole thing is creating a lot of chatter.

“What we are noticing on social media is that campers are having conversations about this and saying, hey, that’s my shoe. Is someone coming to Saskatoon? Can you bring it? So there’s these random connections that are happening.”

And while acknowledging the foxes are cute, McGuire cautioned that they are still wild animals and should not be approached.

“Give them some space and keep your items locked up because they are stealing all kinds of things.”