Latest news with #GrandTeton
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Beware of ‘Swiper,' a Fox at Grand Teton Park With a Penchant for Footwear
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, known for its majestic mountain vistas and rich flora and fauna, has recently added another distinction of sorts: A wily fox there has been surreptitiously relieving campers of their shoes. 'Wanted for grand theft footwear,' the National Park Service announced with a poster featuring an illustration of a fox gripping a sneaker in its teeth. 'Crimes: Stealing left shoes (they taste better), flip-flops and campers' pride.' The whimsical wanted poster, which branded the fox the Sneaker Snatcher, the Midnight Mismatcher and Swiper the Fox, was part of the park's initial effort to warn campers that parkgoers' shoes had been vanishing. An accompanying poster stapled to a pole near the Lizard Creek Campground tallied 19 stolen pieces of footwear and suggested that the culprit was still on the prowl: '0 days since last fox/shoe incident.' But last week, as the tally of purloined footwear rose to 32, Grand Teton posted a video to Instagram scolding campers for intentionally leaving out their footwear as offerings for the thieving fox — 'just in case he visits.' In the video — set to audio of a scene from the 2008 animated movie 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' — a would-be camper leaves a pair of hiking boots outside a tent and the Sneaker Snatcher, played by a stuffed and mounted fox, thanks them for the sacrifice. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Wild fox goes on robbing spree
Grand Teton National Park has issued "WANTED" posters warning visitors about a fox, or multiple foxes, that have stolen at least 32 shoes from campers recently. Park rangers are advising visitors to secure their footwear in bear boxes, vehicles, or tents to prevent further thefts by the animal. Despite the park's warnings, some visitors are intentionally leaving their shoes out in hopes of encountering the elusive shoe-stealing fox. Park officials are concerned that the fox's increasing habituation to humans could lead to negative outcomes for the animal, including potential relocation or euthanasia. Visitors are urged to report any shoe thefts to rangers and maintain a safe distance from all wildlife, including foxes, to ensure both human and animal safety.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Sly as a... National park rangers blame sneaky fox for theft of 32 pairs of shoes
"WANTED" posters have been hung up in Grand Teton National Park to warn visitors that they may be visited by a sneaky thief if they aren't careful. A shoe-stealing fox has snatched at least 32 shoes from campers and other visitors to the Wyoming national park in the last several weeks. The thefts prompted park rangers to hang "WANTED" posters warning campers about the fox — whose aliases include "Sneaker Snatcher," "The Midnight Mismatcher' and "Swiper the Fox" — and advising them on how best protect their footwear. Campers should keep their shoes in a secure location — like a bear box, inside their vehicles, or at very least inside their tents — to avoid losing them to the fox. Officials told Backpack magazine they aren't entirely sure if it's one fox or a group of foxes stealing the shoes, but in either case, they want the thefts to stop. Unfortunately, the park's warning seems to have backfired. According to a post on the park's Instagram account, the warnings apparently only encouraged the visitors to leave out their shoes in hopes of catching a glimpse of the larcenous fox and its potential accomplices. 'What does the fox do with the shoes? We still don't know,' the park said in a social media post. 'Maybe it's a toy. Maybe it's a nesting material collection. Maybe it's fashion.' Emily Davis, a spokesperson for Grand Teton National Park, told Backpacker that the shoe heists are quite real, and the park's response — though lighthearted in tone — is to educate guests, not encourage interaction with the foxes. 'We were trying to educate our visitors in a fun way about this fox and not to habituate it,' Davis told the magazine. Park officials aren't sure why the fox or foxes keep targeting shoes. It could be that they are attracted to the salty sweat left in them after a day of hiking. But foxes are also generally mischievous and this one may simply just enjoy playing with shoes. Whatever the reason, the thefts mean that a fox or foxes are venturing closer to humans and doing so regularly. When wild animals become too comfortable around humans, it can lead to unfortunate outcomes for both. In general, the park service asks visitors to always stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards away from other animals, such as foxes. '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 because it may need to be relocated or, in the worst-case scenario, euthanized,' the NPS wrote in an Instagram caption. Davis said that hikers and campers in the park should store their food, cosmetics and — at least during this latest crimewave — their unworn shoes inside of bear boxes. For those who don't camp, a bear box is a reinforced metal box meant to keep bears out. For visitors who do see a fox shoe theft, the best course of action is to contact a ranger so they can follow up. For visitors who do not see a fox shoe theft, you might want to check your feet, because your shoes may already be gone.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Onlooker captures heart-stopping image as parkgoer stumbles into grizzly bear encounter: 'Unaware of his surroundings'
An Instagrammer shared photos of a tourist who got the fright of his life when he almost came face-to-face with a grizzly bear at a national park in Wyoming. BackCountry Safaris (@backcountrysafarisusa) shared the images and wrote, "This gentleman was unaware of his surroundings and got out of his vehicle with a boar grizzly bear only steps away." The social post described the encounter that took place in Grand Teton National Park. Oblivious to his surroundings, the visitor got out of his vehicle right next to the bear. After the guides yelled at him to get back into his car, he found the door was locked. The caption described the action: "He jumped through his window, tucking his feet in just as the bear turned the corner of his car." It was probably just as well the gentleman was wearing dark shorts. While the image of the poor fellow's feet dangling out of his car's window is objectively hilarious, it does highlight an important point about people getting far too close to wild animals. It's dangerous for both people and animals. Bears and other large animals can inflict grievous injuries, and repeated encounters with humans may cause them to lose their fear of people. When an animal injures a human — provoked or unprovoked — they may be euthanized. The National Park Service advises visitors to enjoy wildlife from a distance, and an article cautions, "If animals react to your presence you are too close." The service suggests predators, such as bears, should be given a wide berth of around 150 feet. Enjoying the wildlife of national parks is a great way to support eco-friendly travel destinations, and connecting with nature confers both mental and physical health benefits; however, these come with responsibilities. Respect for nature means leaving a green space as you found it and not disturbing wildlife. Fortunately, the hapless tourist's only injuries were to his pride, and the commenters on the post could scarcely contain their mirth. One humorously invoked an old maxim, saying, "Stop, drop, and jump into car window … noted!" Should tourists be responsible for cleaning up their own trash? Absolutely In most cases It depends on the place No, they shouldn't Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Another sarcastically quipped, "That's funnn." A sharp-eyed commenter noted the license plate and the source of many a whacky tale, saying, "Ohhh Florida Man." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Grand Teton Tourist Dives Headfirst Through Open Car Window To Avoid Grizzly
A tourist dove through an open car window to escape a possible attack from a massive grizzly bear in a Wyoming national park. The heart-stopping image was captured on the winding roads of Grand Teton National Park - a nearly 310,000-acre expanse with 40 miles of rugged Rocky Mountain peaks. Traffic had suddenly came to a standstill in what park regulars dubbed a 'very large animal jam.' More than 50 people stood frozen on a hillside with binoculars and high-powered cameras in hand to witness a very large bear from afar. But one tourist suddenly came face-to-face with the beast - and in a split-second decision, hurled himself through his car window, narrowly escaping unscathed. 'When the bear emerged from the trees, it was right in line with his taillights,' Molly Hagan told Cowboy State Daily. 'He did not hear the crowd yelling at him to get in his car.' 'He dove into his car window and tucked his feet just as the bear came around the driver's side and crossed the street,' she added. On June 3, Hagan, social media coordinator for Backcountry Safaris Jackson Hole, was spending the day in Grand Teton. But while on the road, she witnessed a saturation of vehicles - all stopped and lining the road - in what she immediately recognized as an 'animal jam.' 'With the level of traffic present, and having already seen plenty of elk that day, I figured it had to be a bear,' Hagan told Cowboy State Daily. Spotting nearly five dozen people gathered on a hillside, using scopes and high-powered cameras to peer across the road, Hagan pulled over and got her camera ready to capture whatever had everyone on edge. Assuming the wildlife was far off, she wandered to a better vantage point - but saw nothing in the open field. It wasn't until Hagan hurried toward the growing crowd that she realized what had captured everyone's full attention. 'When I finally got to the crowd, I saw what they did: A huge grizzly, standing 10 feet off the left-hand side of the road,' Hagan told the outlet. 'And it was on the move.' But this wasn't just a charming, nature-documentary-style bear sighting - this bear, it was later discovered, was on a mission: to mate with an awaiting bear in a picturesque meadow just across the road. With her background in wildlife, Hagan quickly recognized the potential danger and put distance between herself and the bear, weaving her way to the back of the crowd. At the same moment, wildlife guides recognized that the huffing, puffing bear could strike at any moment - and swiftly sprang into action. 'Three wildlife guides, all armed with bear spray, put themselves between the bear and the crowd,' Hagan told Cowboy State Daily. 'The bear was huffing, looked at the crowd multiple times, but stayed at least 10 feet off the road,' she added. However, curiosity seemed to get the best of those stuck in the animal-related jam, as they began stepping out of their cars - unaware that the bear was close enough to strike at any moment. 'At this point, the wildlife guides were yelling, telling everyone to stay in their vehicle,' Hagan explained to the outlet. 'The bear continued north, and the crowd slowly moved south.' But urgent warnings from tour guides didn't seem to register with everyone - including one unsuspecting tourist who stepped out of their vehicle just as the bear briefly disappeared behind two trees along the road. The bear reemerged from behind the trees in an instant - right in line with the unidentified tourist's taillights - and began moving toward the passenger door. Unaware of the danger creeping up behind him and the frantic screams urging him back, he fully stepped out of the car, closing the driver's side door just as the huffing bear drew nearer. Just seconds later, he spotted the bear and realized the danger he'd naively walked into. His first instinct: get back inside the car. But the door was locked. His next move was to dive for his life through the open window of his black Kia, bearing Florida license plates - a heart-stopping moment perfectly captured by Hagan. In the photo, the tourist's peril is unmistakable: his outstretched legs, caught mid-jump and fully sideways, hang out of the open driver's side window. Just feet away, the muscular, huffing grizzly stalked closer - but fortunately, it showed little interest in the tourist's dangling feet and continued its intimidating march across the road. Thankfully, both bear and man escaped unscathed - the man safely back in his car, and the bear free to continue its journey to join in on Grand Teton's peak mating season. 'The photos tell the story better than any words can,' Hagan told Cowboy State Daily. While exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the National Park Service urges visitors to maintain a safe distance of at least 100 yards from bears roaming the natural surroundings. Most rangers and ecologists in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem agree that bear spray is essential for anyone traveling in grizzly country, according to the outlet. If you unexpectedly come face-to-face with a grizzly at close range, the best course of action is to 'play dead' - though the safest defense is to avoid these furry bears altogether. 'The best tool you have is your own situational awareness and both mental and physical preparedness when in grizzly bear occupied areas,' Dan Thompson, bear expert and large carnivore biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, previously told Cowboy State Daily. 'The reason we promote the use of bear spray is that it's been shown time and again to effectively stop a bear attack,' he added.
