Animal noises – Learn more with Healthier Pets Today! Listen closely and you’ll hear the symphony of the outdoors.
The wolf’s howls, coyote choruses, coughing deer, croaking ravens, chiming spring peepers, and melodic whippoorwills all contribute to the soundtrack of our adventures in nature.
At times, they add eerie, supernatural sounds such as demonic or ghostly vocalizations that don’t seem of this world.
At times, they add eerie, supernatural sounds such as demonic or ghostly vocalizations that don’t seem of this world.
Below find a list of what might be screaming in your woods and the actual animal noises to go with them.
Hopefully, we will put some of those wintertime ghost stories to rest!
Table of Contents
1. Mountain Lion/Cougar
Mountain lions and cougars (essentially the same animal, with different preferred names in other regions) are primarily found in the Western United States (as far east as Nebraska) and Florida.
Although they have a reputation for giving camping humans night terrors, they typically make little animal noises in the woods.
When these animals do vocalize, they typically sound like a person whistling or a bird chirping. Their growl resembles that of a loud house cat.
The associated “scream” of a mountain lion is typically a female looking for a male mate, whose range can encompass 50 to 150 square miles.
2. Lynx/Bobcat
This medium-sized wildcat’s range extends over most of Canada and Alaska and south into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
The lynx is considered endangered in New Hampshire, and it’s arguable presence in Colorado has been a historical cause for contention between environmentalists and developers.
These solitary animals utilize animal noises that can resemble a child wailing in distress to find each other during mating season (February to April).
When two females square off, the “catcalls” they throw at each other in displays of dominance are downright unworldly.
If you happen to hear the eerie screech of a lynx, consider yourself fortunate.
When cats confront each other or express their desire, they tend to produce bizarre and comical noises that are contrary to their usually poised and graceful demeanor. These noises, often referred to as caterwauling, can vary from yowls to growls and even include purring.
Important Feline Communication
Despite their ridiculousness, these noises play an important role in feline communication, conveying emotions such as aggression, fear, or affection.
Imagine yourself trekking through the dense forests of the Northwoods on a crisp winter morning.
The sun has just started to peek over the treetops, and a light layer of snow crunches under your feet with every step.
Suddenly, you hear an unusual sound in the distance – a low growl followed by a high-pitched yowl. You pause and strain your ears, trying to identify the source of the noise.
As you move cautiously towards the sound, you catch a glimpse of two Canada lynx, their fur puffed up, circling each other in a tense standoff.
You watch in awe as they communicate in their own language, growling and yowling, each trying to assert their dominance.
It’s a rare and unforgettable experience to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. In that case, you may well conclude you’re listening in on a couple of unruly (and possibly drunk) devils having an ear-splitting hissy-fit.
It’s rare to hear the territorial yowling contest between lynxes, making it a lucky experience.
3. Elk
An estimated 1 million North American elk (there are six subspecies) live across:
- The western United States
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Pennsylvania
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Seven Canadian provinces
That’s about one-tenth of their estimated population across all of North America before European settlement.
During the mating season – the “rut,” or time when male elks are looking to hook up – runs mid-September through mid-October.
Especially during this period, male elks let out loud, high-pitched whistle-like vocalization, often accompanied by a low-pitched roar that can carry more than 1 mile.
4. Red Fox
Red foxes are known for making a variety of animal noises, such as barks, yips, and twitters.
However, during the winter breeding season, their vocalizations take on a more terrifying tone, all in the name of love.
Both male (also known as “dog”) and female (“vixen”) foxes may emit loud, harsh shrieks during this period.
However, it is the female foxes who are primarily responsible for making the unsettling noise, which is often referred to as “the vixen’s scream.”
Their goal is to attract a mate through this sound, which is notorious for being spine-chilling. It is common to hear the vixen’s scream, especially in the dead of night when foxes are active and sound travels farther.
Many people who hear this otherworldly call would never guess that it comes from a pretty and prim little fox. Indeed, it’s got to be the ghost of some murder victim or a witch.
But it’s also a freaky enough noise that knowing what’s behind it makes it less freaky.
5. Ruffed Grouse
The drumming of the ruffed grouse can be heard up to a quarter mile away or more.
The male-ruffed grouse creates a unique sound by rapidly beating its wings while standing on a mound or log in the forest.
The deep, muted, percussive thumping can be felt more than heard, and it is used to establish territory and attract a mate.
The sound can travel a quarter-mile or more and is made by the air rushing through its wings at an incredible speed of up to 50 beats per second.
6. American Alligator
During warmer spring weather, the American alligators start their mating season by roaring loudly.
The backwaters of the Southeast become prehistoric with the low-pitch bellows of both male and female gators.
However, the male alligators, also known as bulls, take it to the next level by roaring loudly. This reptilian roar is a chilling sound that adds to the already eerie atmosphere of a subtropical swamp.
Although alligators are not as dangerous as their reputation suggests, the sound of a roaring bull alligator can be enough to make you think twice about exploring the swamp.
If you’re lucky enough to see a bull gator roaring, you’re in for a real treat. The beast lifts his head and tail from the water while announcing his status, causing the surface to vibrate and dance around him.
7. Puma
The Puma, also known as the mountain lion, is a large wild cat species native to the Americas. It is nicknamed “swamp screamer” due to its bone-chilling screech.
Although it is rare to hear this sound, if you do, it is unforgettable. The female puma’s scream, particularly when in heat, is often compared to the sound of a panicked woman or someone being murdered.
This explains why one of the many names given to this big cat is “swamp screamer.”
8. Great Blue Heron
The amazing blue heron is one of the largest herons in the world and is known for its distinctive animal noise.
While you’re in swamps and marshes, you might hear the noisy mating calls of alligators. But in wetlands, lakeshores, and riverways throughout the country, including those in cities and suburbs, you might hear what sounds like dinosaur vocalizations.
That’s actually the comically harsh squawk of the great blue heron, a sound that dates back to the bird’s dinosaur ancestors.
This elegant and enormous bird, which is among the tallest birds in North America, is a stealthy hunter in the shallows.
But when disturbed, it can release a truly primitive-sounding expletive (or at least that’s what it seems like).
The great blue heron’s hoarse, croaky noise might startle you at first, but it also adds a unique element of wildness to the urban soundscape if you hear it along a downtown greenway.
Unsettling Animal Noises…
It is important to note that these animal noises are not inherently “scary” but may be perceived as such due to a person’s experiences or cultural associations.
Additionally, many animals have different vocalizations that may not be considered “scary” in specific contexts, such as the purring of a domestic cat.
