What's making that noise - foxes?

[Double-O-Dave]

Good evening all:

We live in a city, a well established, suburban neighborhood with a greenbelt behind our house. Saying that, the occasional deer has been spotted in our backyard over the years foraging. About a year ago, we noticed some kind of animal(s) making odd noises late at night, or early in the morning. The sound is unlike anything I've ever heard before. Through the process of elimination, I think they are foxes as no one in the neighborhood reports the loss of their cats or dogs, and I think anything of the canine family, such as a coyote or wolf would definitely be taking advantage of the neighborhood pets. Additionally, I've noticed the noises from the mystery animals has absolutely no impact on our dogs.

Just curious, but what do ya'll think it could be?

Regards,

Dave

 

[arjay]

Probably foxes.This time of year,with a litter to feed,they will take cats.My last house had a nice den site just outside of my backyard.In the evening we would watch as mom brought out the pups to play.My daughter really enjoyed it.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Raccoons?

 

[BobC357]

Without hearing it, it is hard to say.

In our city suburban neighborhood we have foxes, coyotes, racoons, bobcats, cougars, bear, deer, owls, hawks, and whatever else comes down from the mountain.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Raccoons?

Certainly possible. I know they're out there. I never considered them as a source.

Hmmmm.

Thanks, Kanewpadle.


Regards,

Dave

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Without hearing it, it is hard to say.

In our city suburban neighborhood we have foxes, coyotes, racoons, bobcats, cougars, bear, deer, owls, hawks, and whatever else comes down from the mountain.

BobC357: it is the darndest noise I've ever heard...a combination of yips, chirps and high pitched vocalizations (ie "yodels"). I wish I could capture it on audio, or if I could borrow a game camera, I'd like to capture some video of whatever it is. Last winter I threatened to camp out one night in the back yard just to check it out, but my darn arthritis is bad enough in a nice warm bed that I didn't want to chance it outdoors, even in the backyard (plus, mama makes a mighty fine windbreak ).

Regards,

Dave

 

[Kanewpadle]

BobC357: it is the darndest noise I've ever heard...a combination of yips, chirps and high pitched vocalizations (ie "yodels"). I wish I could capture it on audio, or if I could borrow a game camera, I'd like to capture some video of whatever it is. Last winter I threatened to camp out one night in the back yard just to check it out, but my darn arthritis is bad enough in a nice warm bed that I didn't want to chance it outdoors, even in the backyard (plus, mama makes a mighty fine windbreak ).

Regards,

Dave

Sounds like Raccoons to me Dave. We have many of them that come through the yard. I've noticed that they are capable of several different sounds at differing pitches. I've heard them "yodel" too. They normally won't hunt a cat or dog but they will defend themselves against them.

 

[tops]

Google different animal sounds and see if any sound like what you hear. Larry

 

[Mule Packer]

My guess is foxes. Foxes make over 40 different sounds...everything from barks, screams, "geckkering," (a funny little chortling type of noise when they're either fighting or playing...kinda hard to describe), howls, and yelps. Some of their noises are downright eery.

Raccoons, on the other hand, can make sort of a warbling sound (sounds kinda like a weird bird or something) as well as a bark. Like Kanewpaddle said, they can make a yodeling sound, too. They also make a chirping sound.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Google different animal sounds and see if any sound like what you hear. Larry

Larry: Excellent idea! I don't know why I didn't think of this. I tried your suggestion and found a match (Raccoon):

Raccoon Sounds

"Raccoon looking for her siblings".

Looks like you and Kanewpadle had it right.

Thanks everyone for your inputs. Mystery solved.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Steely Dan]

A couple of years ago I kept hearing a weird sound behind the house.

I couldn't identify it. But it was weird sounds. The kind that make you say, "what the heck was that"?

I thought it might be a fox so I googled fox sounds and found the specific sound I heard.

Not long after that, we noticed a male and female across the highway.

Sadly both were hit by cars. I hate that highway.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Steely Dan:

I find them very pretty and mysterious animals. In this case, the fairy tales, in my opinion, have it right in that they look so darn SLY. Once, when my children were young, I took them camping in nearby McKinney Falls State Park:

McKinney Falls State Park ? Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

That evening, following supper, we were taking a walk, and as we were returning to our campsite, I could see a silver fox catching bugs by the side of a parking area. He was so intent on his task that he never saw us, and I quietly got the kids to hunker down beside me. I then made some quiet clicking and chirping noises from my mouth. Talk about a dilemma for the fox - he was torn between coming up to us to see what those strange noises were, and staying where he was to continue his bug dinner. He finally had enough and silently disappeared into the darkening woods.

A rare and beautiful moment in time. My kids looked at me as you would a wizard.

Thank you for sharing your story, Steely Dan.

Regards,

Dave


Good times and fond memories.

 

[Mickey D]

Chupacabra

 

[Hayden]

I moved onto a ranch I was working on about 2 years ago. There was 2 or 3 Bart Owls that lived in the big Cotton Woods behind the house. When they get going, they sound like monkeys in a full blown fight up in the trees. Strangest sounds you ever did here. Very interesting.

Hayden.

 

[Cyrano]

Without hearing it, it is hard to say.

In our city suburban neighborhood we have foxes, coyotes, racoons, bobcats, cougars, bear, deer, owls, hawks, and whatever else comes down from the mountain.

In El Paso our selection isnt quite as wide. We have coyotes, of course, deer, owls, hawks and an occasional cougar from the Franklin Mountains finds its way into the city, probably looking for deer. A friend from Alamogordo, 60 miles up the road, found a bobcat in his back yard once: he's right next to some pretty high mountains.

 

[Dragonfly]

I've also heard raccoons in our suburban neighbourhood screech like a demon from the pits of hell...almost like a human scream. I would not have guessed if I hadn't peeked out and seen 'em. Super creepy on a quiet summer night.

 

[Engieman]

Good chance it is a Fox. They make a lot of noise, we have a lot here in our suburban neighborhood. Had one for a while that we follow my female dog when, at a safe distance, we would go for walks. She's good looking, so I understand how the boy's could become enamored. My eccentric neighbor - often drunk but harmless - was advised by his friend, a "University Professor"....to 'mark his territory' to keep them out of his yard. Sure enough, I would catch him from time to time....., 'um urinating....., on the edges of his property and at the base of various tree's. True story, the man had no shame, nor did he care! And given that each of us has about an acre, he had his work cut out for him. A lot of fluids required, man needed to keep hydrated.