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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Freaked out by footprints

123 replies

Letitsnow32 · 18/12/2022 13:41

We have a fresh layer of snow in our back garden that has been undisturbed until now. I went into my garden this morning to find fresh footprints in the form of a large circle. The footprints must be of a child based on the size and the prints look like the underside of wellies. I’m most freaked out because there are no footprints leading up to this circle or leaving, it’s just a perfect imprint where they have walked in a large circle. My garden is very secure, my neighbour to one side has thick prickly bushes against the fence and the other side has bird deterrent spikes along the full length (don’t ask), the back has a large office block, it would be impossible for anyone to climb over unnoticed. The rest of the snow is untouched. I can’t work out how this has happened without footprints leading from and to their entrance/exit site. It definitely wasn’t there yesterday as I check every day to see if the snow has melted. DD is too small to go outside alone, it isn’t from anyone in the house. There aren’t any children living nearby who may have sneaked in somehow. Can anyone come up with a plausible explanation before I abandon ship and put the house up for sale!?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Rockersversuswalter · 18/12/2022 16:14

Fox shmox!

I want photos of supernatural ghostie things.

MariosMagicMushrooms · 18/12/2022 16:16

Rockersversuswalter · 18/12/2022 16:14

Fox shmox!

I want photos of supernatural ghostie things.

Foxes are cute.

A fox wearing wellies would just be adorable. Pics please 🙂

JoanOfAllTrades · 18/12/2022 16:19

Many years ago, I used to watch a series called Stargate SG1 and they had little aliens called the Asgard who were like defenders of Earth (clearly pre-any Marvel heroes).

I wouldn’t be surprised (since the Asgard are very small) if they are thinking of staging a comeback, having read the thread on how bad the UK is and they tested the waters, so to speak, in @Letitsnow32 garden. Clearly, you are now meant to put an X in your window, because ya know, you want to believe…

However just in case the thought of aliens running naked around your garden, having been beamed down like Kirk from their spaceship The Enterprise is giving you the wellies OP, fear not, I have an alternative theory that doesn’t involve aliens but does involve small half-naked creatures. Yes, you guessed it. Winky, whilst aimlessly wandering, or rather, disapparating around the UK, still heartbroken over losing first (and second) Barty Crouch, followed by that charming yet fierce defender of the (magical) faith Dobby, clearly apparated into your garden, ran around it in a fit of panic and then disapparated out again.

Did you by chance hear a loud crack? if so, that probably wasn’t local yobbos stealing someone’s outside decorations, but more likely Winky leaving before being nabbed by the Ministry for using magic near Muggles! Also, if, by chance some local yobbos did make off with someone’s outside decorations last night, wasn’t it clever of Winky to time her escape at the moment that the yobbos made a lot of noise?

DuckBushCityLimit · 18/12/2022 16:23

MariosMagicMushrooms · 18/12/2022 16:13

I want a photo of the fox 🙂

Here you go

Freaked out by footprints
NeonBoomerang · 18/12/2022 16:24

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Footprints?wprov=sfla1

blankittyblank · 18/12/2022 16:25

This is so weird? Why would a fox jump into, and out of your garden? That makes no sense. And fox footprints are tiny, like dots. How can they be confused for childlike wellies? Why do people bother making this stuff up?

Ittybittytittycomittee · 18/12/2022 16:25

Squarerootofpi · 18/12/2022 13:50

Surely a bird must have landed and done a circle before flying off? Maybe a seagull or something with webbed feet?

this is what I was thinking!

wavingfuriously · 18/12/2022 16:27

😆

SoupDragon · 18/12/2022 16:28

I had no idea that foxes wore Wellington boots!

the ones round here just leave little fox foot shaped prints.

wavingfuriously · 18/12/2022 16:29

👻

Taillighttoobright · 18/12/2022 16:31

Photo of it, please!

TempyBrennan · 18/12/2022 16:41

Post the photo!

fgswhywouldIdothat · 18/12/2022 16:49

Your stalker wishes you'd notice them...

AcrossthePond55 · 18/12/2022 16:50

Maybe y'all grow foxes HUGE in the UK, but the foxes that come on our (US) property leave cute little paw prints that look like a small dog's. No way they'd look like wellie prints.

Although prints in snow can 'morph' a bit if they've melted and then refrozen.

fishonabicycle · 18/12/2022 16:52

I'm sorry, but how can fox prints look like Welly prints?

nonevernotever · 18/12/2022 16:54

Lunde · 18/12/2022 14:56

Has someone been reading "A Shetland Winter Mystery"?
"It's the dark nights in the run up to Christmas, and sailing sleuth Cass Lynch's first night on dry land is disturbed by strange noises outside her isolated cottage. Tiny footprints in the moonlit snow trail from her front door before mysteriously disappearing. Soon Cass learns others were visited by the same tiny feet in the night."
www.amazon.co.uk/Shetland-Winter-Mystery-Sailing-Mysteries/dp/1472292065

I loved that series @Lunde

VioletLemon · 18/12/2022 16:55

OK, child or teen could have got in and on their way out thrown snow over to cover track.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 18/12/2022 17:02

BeyondTheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 18/12/2022 14:13

Are you in a creepy cabin in the middle of nowhere?

I wish!

Annabel073 · 18/12/2022 17:03

blankittyblank · 18/12/2022 16:25

This is so weird? Why would a fox jump into, and out of your garden? That makes no sense. And fox footprints are tiny, like dots. How can they be confused for childlike wellies? Why do people bother making this stuff up?

Yes- fox prints are very distinctive in snow, nothing like a child's footprint. How did the fox get out without leaving a trail?

ShoveAHollySprigUpYourBum · 18/12/2022 17:03

.

Freaked out by footprints
NooNakedJacuzziness · 18/12/2022 17:03

fishonabicycle · 18/12/2022 16:52

I'm sorry, but how can fox prints look like Welly prints?

Maybe it was this chap 

NooNakedJacuzziness · 18/12/2022 17:04

Him

Freaked out by footprints
Mamette · 18/12/2022 17:05

Squarerootofpi · 18/12/2022 13:50

Surely a bird must have landed and done a circle before flying off? Maybe a seagull or something with webbed feet?

Birdy friend no doubt.

viques · 18/12/2022 17:09

Small ninja yeti?

QuestionableMouse · 18/12/2022 17:10

Was obviously Puss in Boots. He got lost in the way home from the panto.