GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK – A shoe-stealing fox is living up to its reputation as a trickster in Grand Teton National Park.
The fox stole a surprising 19 shoes in recent weeks, so National Park Service crews put up signs in the Wyoming park warning campers to keep their footwear in a safe space, like tents, vehicles, or bear boxes. That didn’t do the trick though. Since then, the cunning fox has taken a whopping 32 shoes!
“What does the fox do with the shoes?” said the NPS. “We still don’t know. Maybe it’s a toy. Maybe it’s a nesting material collection. Maybe it’s ✨ fashion ✨. “
The NPS used humor to share the story of the sly shoe stealer, but they also pointed out that it’s a problem for the fox to get acclimated to humans.
The NPS provided some tips to campers to keep their shoes and the fox safe:
↟ Store your shoes, food and scented items appropriately. #LeaveNoShoesBehind
↟ Don’t bait wildlife with belongings.
↟ Let wildlife be wildlife—not campground mascots.
↟ Scare, don’t stare. If a fox shows up, make noise and encourage it to move along. Wild animals need to stay wild.
NATIONAL PARK NEWS
