This morning, I stepped out onto the porch to get some fresh air and discovered this. Honestly, at first, I was really scared.

This sounds like one of those classic, heartwarming (or slightly suspenseful) viral internet stories. Headlines such as “What Looked Like a Sleeping Fox Turned Out to Be Something Entirely Different” are a staple of social media and often follow a few familiar storylines.

Since there isn’t a single well-known news story with this exact headline, it’s likely a generic viral post. Based on how these stories usually unfold, here are four of the most common reveals:

🦊 1. The Heartwarming Rescue (It Was a Puppy!)

This is the most common and beloved version. A homeowner looks outside and sees what appears to be a fluffy, reddish-orange fox curled up on the porch. As they cautiously approach, they discover it’s actually a lost, cold puppy—perhaps a Chow Chow mix, Shiba Inu, or Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The story typically ends with the puppy receiving food, warmth, and eventually a loving forever home.

🐺 2. The Wildlife Twist (It Was a Coyote or Bobcat)

Sometimes the surprise is that the animal really is wild—but not a fox. During colder months, coyotes grow thick, reddish-brown coats and curl up tightly to stay warm, making them resemble oversized foxes from a distance. In other versions, the mystery animal turns out to be a bobcat or, in South America, even a maned wolf, whose unusual appearance often leads to mistaken identity.