Surprise Guests Move In — With Fur and Four Paws
Sometimes nature has a way of showing up right at your doorstep — literally. For Ashley Charriere of Mitchell, Manitoba, that moment came when she discovered a family of foxes had quietly taken up residence beneath her porch.
Charriere shared her story with CBC's The National, describing the unexpected but undeniably adorable situation of waking up to find wild fox kits making themselves at home just steps from her front door. It's the kind of encounter that stops you in your tracks — and, for many Canadians who heard the story, it was a welcome reminder of how closely wildlife and everyday life can intersect across this country.
Canada's Backyard Wildlife
Fox sightings in Canadian residential areas are more common than many people realize. Red foxes in particular have adapted remarkably well to suburban and semi-rural environments, drawn in by the shelter that structures like decks and porches provide — especially during denning season in late winter and early spring.
For a small town like Mitchell, located about 30 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, having a family of foxes take up temporary residence isn't entirely out of the ordinary. The Prairies offer wide-open landscapes that support thriving fox populations, and as development encroaches on natural habitat, encounters like Charriere's are becoming increasingly common from British Columbia to the Maritimes.
Wildlife experts generally advise a simple rule in these situations: observe from a distance, don't feed them, and give the family space. Fox kits typically stay with their mother for several months before venturing out on their own, so a temporary porch tenant can become a weeks-long wildlife watching experience.
The Internet Can't Get Enough
Stories like Charriere's tend to go quietly viral for good reason. In a news cycle that can feel relentlessly heavy, a fluffy family of foxes doing ordinary fox things — tumbling over each other, peeking out from under a porch, watching the world go by — is a genuine mood lift.
Social media responses to moments like these consistently reflect how much Canadians love their wildlife neighbours. Whether it's a moose wandering through a Newfoundland suburb, a beaver causing a traffic jam in Ottawa's Greenbelt, or a family of foxes in Mitchell making themselves at home, these encounters tap into something deeply Canadian: an abiding affection for the wild creatures we share this land with.
What To Do If Wildlife Moves In
If you find yourself in a similar situation this spring, here's what wildlife rehabilitators recommend:
- Don't panic. Fox families typically move on once the kits are old enough to travel, usually by midsummer.
- Keep pets and children away from the den area to avoid stressing the animals.
- Don't attempt to relocate the family yourself — contact a local wildlife rehabilitator if you're concerned.
- Enjoy the show from a respectful distance. It's a rare front-row seat to Canadian wildlife.
As for Charriere, she handled her unexpected houseguests with exactly the kind of good-natured grace the moment called for — and gave the rest of the country a feel-good story worth smiling about.
Source: CBC Top Stories — The National
