Have you ever been out in nature and heard a strange, unsettling scream from the wilderness? Some animal screams can be downright bone-chilling. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the loudest and most bizarre animal screeches. Get ready to cover your ears as we learn about seven wildlife screamers.
Red Fox
The red fox is known for its shrill, ear-piercing screams. These medium-sized canines use screaming as a form of communication. Fox’s screams can sound like a woman shrieking in pain. Terrifying!
Red foxes will scream for a few different reasons. During mating season, vixens (female foxes) will scream as a mating call to attract male foxes. The males will also scream when competing for mates. Fox families will scream to keep in contact with each other. And foxes warn each other of danger by emitting a loud, sharp cry.
So if you’re out camping and hear what sounds like a woman being murdered, it’s most likely just two foxes arguing over a vixen. Phew!
Geckos
You’re probably familiar with the cute little gecko from the Geico commercials. But did you know that these colourful lizards can be quite the squealers?
Geckos are equipped with vocal cords, just like us humans. And they like to use them! Most gecko species produce some call. The most common gecko scream is an alarm call they emit when threatened.
Leopard geckos make a high-pitched squeak that almost sounds like a crying baby. The African fat-tailed gecko produces a similar shrill chirp. Tokay geckos are known for their loud, bizarre screams that sound like crazed laughter. And the giant leaf-tailed gecko has a unique call described as a “plaintive child-like wail.” I bet you didn’t know lizards could be so noisy!
Goats
Goats are adorable, lovable creatures. But occasionally, these domesticated animals let out bloodcurdling screams that would make your skin crawl.
A goat’s scream is similar to a human’s scream. Goats have very flexible vocal cords that allow them to make various squeals, bleats and unusual noises.
Goats will scream for several reasons. Sometimes, they scream to locate the rest of the herd if separated. Mother goats also shriek to call their babies. And young goats scream during weaning when they’re separated from their moms.
But the creepiest goat screams happen for no reason at all. Goats will randomly emit a spine-chilling scream even when they’re perfectly content. So, if you hear the shrieks of what sounds like a woman being attacked, it might just be a happy billy goat. Sweet dreams!
Gibbons
Gibbons are small apes that live in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. They may look cute, but wait until you hear their bizarre screams!
Gibbons are known as the “singing apes” because of their complex vocalizations. Their screams serve as a type of song to mark their territory. At dawn each morning, gibbons wake up and belt out a 20-minute song using hoots, wails, and bloodcurdling screams.
Unlike most animals, male and female gibbons have equal singing duties. Their eerie duets can be heard up to 3 miles away! Gibbons also scream to defend their territory and reinforce the pair bond between mates.
So, if you’re hiking through the jungles of southeast Asia and hear high-pitched wailing, it’s just the song of the gibbons. What a terrifying lullaby!
Peacock
With its huge iridescent tail, the peacock is one of the most beautiful birds on the planet. But the peacock’s beauty comes with a horrible price – its chilling scream.
Peacocks emit a piercing cry that sounds similar to a human baby weeping. And this haunting scream serves as the peacock’s mating call. When a peacock wants to attract a peahen, he will scream repeatedly and rattle his long tail feathers. Talk about a creepy courtship technique!
You’ll most likely hear peacock screams during mating season in late spring and early summer. But peacocks can squeal year-round if threatened or provoked. Their screams even inspired an old myth that peacocks scream when they see their ugly feet, ashamed of their sole flaw.
So, prepare for some raucous cries next time you visit a zoo with peacocks.
Marmots
Marmots are large squirrel-like rodents that live in mountainous areas. They have stout bodies, fluffy fur and adorable faces. But behind that cute exterior lies an ungodly screech.
The marmot screech is a shrill, repetitive whistling sound. They typically scream to warn other marmots of approaching danger. The volume and urgency of the scream will reflect the level of threat.
A calm marmot might emit a few lazy warning cries before hunkering in its burrow. But a panicked marmot being chased by a predator will let out a furious whistle. This piercing alarm scream is enough to make your ears bleed!
The next time you hike near a marmot colony, be prepared for some unpleasant shrieks if you get too close.
Frogs
Last on our list of wildlife screamers is the humble frog. While most frog noises are pleasant chirps and ribbits, some giant frog species scream loud enough to deafen you!
The record holder for the world’s loudest animal is the African bullfrog. These rotund amphibians scream at over 100 decibels – the same volume as a rock concert! The scream stuns predators and helps attract mates.
Other shrieking frog species include the mountain chicken frog, which makes an unearthly screech like crunching boulders. And the will-call frog screams like an ambulance siren. When large groups of these frogs get together, their combined scream is completely cacophonous!
So, while frogs are mostly peaceful creatures, cover your ears if you stumble upon a swamp or marsh full of giant breeds. The frog chorus may be music to another frog’s ears, but it’s just horrific screaming to us.