Residents in a Winston-Salem, N.C. neighborhood were left scratching their heads as newspapers and phone books inexplicably appeared on their doorsteps, courtesy of an unlikely culprit – a group of gray foxes. James Eubanks, a homeowner in the area, found himself at the center of this curious case.

He began receiving surprise deliveries of newspapers and phone books to his home. He was completely confused by the ‘gifts’ being left. “Some days, he’d find just one paper; other days, as many as 10,” Eubanks said. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Eubanks set up a motion-sensing camera in his yard, hoping to catch the perpetrator in action.

To his surprise, the culprit was not a mischievous neighbor or a forgetful paperboy, but rather a group of gray foxes. “It seems that the guys in the first photo show up about 9:30PM and play until 5:30AM the next morning,” Eubanks posted on Facebook.

A sneaky fox with his newspaper for James Eubanks. Photo courtesy of Eubanks

“The second photo is a bit blurred because of his speed, but you can plainly see him carrying a newspaper in his mouth. This morning there were seven papers and three Yellow Page phone books out there – still in their plastic bags. These guys have been busy!,” he wrote.

Eubanks’ revelation sheds light on the unusual behavior of these urban foxes, who had likely seen the man pick up the items and wanted to give him more. Commenters on social media expressed both amusement and fascination at the antics of the foxes.

I had no idea we were going to find foxes. Without the pictures, no one would believe it.”

As the story gained traction online, it sparked conversations about co-existing with wildlife in urban environments. “Guess what folks … they were here before us,” remarked one commenter, highlighting the fairly normal presence of wildlife in residential areas.

Eubanks’ ‘newspaper’ delivery foxes. Photo courtesy of Eubanks

In the end, Eubanks opted for a hands-off approach, watching the foxes with cameras and letting them continue with their nightly escapades undisturbed. “That’s why I prefer to watch them with cameras and just leave them alone to do their thing,” he said.

Thanks to simple curiosity, and a well-placed camera, not only was the mystery solved, but now Eubanks (and his Facebook friends) can enjoy the antics of the neighborhood foxes. And if anyone is in need of something to read, well, they know where to go. Watch below for a look at the wily foxes in action!

Source: The Dodo