In the hills of Colorado, where the mountains echo with wind and silence, a surprising friendship was born — between a man, his banjo, and a curious wild fox. What started as a simple backyard jam session turned into something much more magical when the fox not only kept coming back for the music — but eventually brought his mom and sister to enjoy the show, too.
Andy Thorn, a talented banjo player known for his work with Leftover Salmon and his solo performances, never expected that his most loyal audience would come with a tail and whiskers. It began quietly one afternoon. Andy was sitting on his back deck, banjo in hand, playing soft melodies as the sun sank behind the trees.
That’s when he saw him — a small, red fox at the edge of the tree line, ears perked, body still.
“I didn’t want to scare him,” Andy recalled. “He was just watching, completely focused on the sound. I kept playing, and he didn’t move. It felt like this unspoken connection, just pure curiosity.”
Over the next few weeks, the fox came back — always around the same time, always drawn to the banjo’s soothing rhythm. He’d sit a few yards away, tail curled neatly around his feet, head tilted slightly as Andy played.
“I’ve played for big crowds, but this fox — he was something else,” Andy laughed. “He was the most attentive listener I’ve ever had. No distractions, no phones. Just ears wide open.”
Soon, the fox wasn’t just an occasional visitor — he became a regular. Andy named him “Foxy,” and their unusual friendship quickly captured hearts when Andy began filming their encounters. The videos showed Andy playing original banjo tunes while Foxy listened quietly, often sitting in the snow or resting near a tree.
But the most incredible moment came one day when Andy noticed something different — Foxy wasn’t alone.
“I looked up and suddenly there were three of them,” Andy said, still amazed. “Foxy had brought his mom and sister. They just sat there, like it was a family concert. I couldn’t believe it.”
It was a deeply touching moment. The trust Foxy had developed was now being extended to his family — wild animals who would normally run at the sight of a human were calmly sitting and listening to music.
Andy kept playing, not wanting to break the spell. The foxes stayed through the session, occasionally moving closer, sniffing the air, watching Andy with bright, intelligent eyes.
“It was one of those moments you just don’t forget,” he said. “To have wild creatures feel safe enough to bring their loved ones near you — that’s rare. That’s real.”
The videos of the fox family went viral almost instantly. Thousands of people around the world watched, teared up, and shared the footage, calling it magical, healing, and heartwarming. In a world full of noise and stress, there was something pure and calming about the sight of a man gently plucking banjo strings while three wild foxes sat nearby, entirely at peace.
Since then, Foxy and his family have returned many times, sometimes just one, sometimes all three. Andy keeps his camera close by, never knowing when his furry audience will appear.
“They’ve taught me to slow down, to be present,” Andy said. “Music is powerful, but so is quiet. So is being still enough for a fox to trust you.”
Though Andy never tries to feed or tame the foxes — respecting their wild nature — there’s clearly a deep sense of mutual respect between them. Foxy has even been seen wagging his tail slightly when Andy starts playing, a subtle but joyful sign that he’s happy to be there.
For Andy, these experiences have transformed the way he sees both music and the natural world. He says that playing for the foxes has given his music new meaning — and it’s reminded him that connection doesn’t always need words.
“The banjo brought us together,” he says. “And somehow, this wild little creature reminded me why I started playing in the first place. For joy. For peace. For something bigger than myself.”
As the seasons change, Andy continues to play — snow falling around him in winter, flowers blooming in spring — always with an eye on the woods, hoping to see a flash of red fur or hear the gentle crunch of paws approaching.
Because somewhere out there, a fox is listening. And sometimes, he even brings his family. 🥺❤️
Full video:
