Weird Sound in the Night

[vogelman]

Several times this summer our family has been awakened by a very loud and very strange animal sound. It is like nothing else we've ever heard, but it is loud enough to wake us all up. It is sort of like a cross between a goose honk and a cat in pain. It doesn't last too long, and once it faded away quickly as if it flew off (I suspect a bird). Any ideas as to what this was? We live in Connecticut in a rural area.

[becks]

Could be foxes, they can make a terrible noise, the babies call out to their mothers or it's to do with mating i believe. Have you tried looking out to see if you can spot anything? And does it only happen at certain times of the year ie when foxes are in season?

[apricot]

Could be a barn owl although I don't know whether you have those in Connecticut. Lovely part of the world, my son used to live in Groton.

[Cetti]

I know this is not very helpful, but it could be anything from a nocturnal mammal to a bird - is there no local wildlife expert that would be better equipped to help you? I've had a look at a checklist for Connecticut and you are so fortunate in having 12 different Owls to choose from. apricot has said Barn Owl, which is also known by the country name (UK) of Screech Owl, and occurs in your area. The noise it makes is certainly blood curdling, but try to have a listen to your other Owls just to make sure. This is the Connecticut bird checklist: http://www.ctbirding.org/ct_checklist.htm

[beale]

Sounds very much like a fox. My advice is to dress in a red jacket, jump on a horse and hunt the little sod down with a beagle.

[New Forester]

Beale (or is it Beagle...?): Beagling is hares, and is done on foot, though I think it does have the "pink" jackets. The senseless slaughter you're thinking of uses foxhounds. Foxes are a real pain if you keep free-range poultry (as I do), but why kill them if not? Vogelman: A red fox the same or very like the European one (which is Vulpes vulpes) does occur in N America, & no doubt it does similar bloodcurdling screaming and yapping at night as ours do here in the UK. It sounds much like someone murdering a smallish dog very nastily. I can't say what else might make night sounds in the US, as most other species are different from here, but possibilities might include owls, whippoorwill, nighthawk or other nightjars, or perhaps other mammals (coyote, skunk, *******, martens...?). 12 owls to choose from! There are only 7 or so in the whole of the UK. You probably do have barn owl (Tyto alba) as this species is almost world-wide. It's sometimes called screech owl here, but I don't think it's the same as the American screech owl. Barn owl makes unearthly groaning and wheezing noises, usually at dusk, but perhaps not loud enough to wake the family.

[New Forester]

Apparently I included an unacceptable word -- sorry. I can't say what the word was, or it'll happen again. I can give you a clue though... It's the name of an animal rather larger than a cat, with a black-and-white banded tail, strong markings on the face and prehensile hands. Its tail featured on the hat of Davy Crockett (he of the Wild Front Ear). It doesn't have another name, so I don't know what else to call it. For heaven's sake! The context made the meaning perfectly clear! We'll be putting little skirts on the legs of furniture next! I hope this post is acceptable now. Or is it the animal itself which is offensive?

[vogelman]

Thanks to all who answered, but obviously I've already looked into the usual suspects. I've lived in this area my whole life and know what *******, owls, etc. sound like. I have already listened to the sounds of every owl through the wonderful nature websites online, but I thought I'd ask the experts what else might be making this really really loud sound at night. I didn't even notice that this was a U.K. group, sorry to bother you all.

[Cheesefreek]

Well pardon my fellow countrymen vogel for trying to help!!!

[Canib]

Could be a democrat having nightmares about Republicans? :)