Canadian police had a fleeting encounter with a notorious bandit this week, before the suspect vanished into the woods with their loot: nearly an entire pack of hot dogs. On May 11, a constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spotted a red-haired fox with five or six full hot dogs in its mouth near Crowsnest Pass in Alberta.
Fictionalized Account of the Encounter
The RCMP posted a fictionalized account of the encounter on Instagram, writing: "Officers attended the area in search of a suspect described as having red hair, being short in stature, and wearing a thick coat. After a brief investigation, the suspect was located attempting to conceal the evidence nearby." They added that the suspect was released without conditions and with a full belly.
Lighthearted Story Brings Smiles
Cpl. Mathew Howell told The Washington Post: "We're hoping that people see it for what it was: a lighthearted story — something funny — to share with the public and, you know, something that hopefully will bring smiles to a few people."
Social Media Rallies to Fox's Defense
Social media users quickly rallied to the fluffy-haired fox's defense. One Instagram user wrote: "He is innocent!!! Could have got those weiners anywhere!!!" Another commented: "Hey, it's tough out here. I got kits to feed," using the term for fox cubs. Red foxes breed early in the year, so the hot dogs could easily have ended up feeding a kit—or six.
Opportunistic Eaters
Foxes are omnivores and opportunistic eaters, known to steal human food left unattended. This behavior may date back millennia. An analysis of fossils suggests foxes may have been snacking on reindeer meat first hunted by humans as far back as about 40,000 years ago.
