Sounds in the garden!

[lab3186]

Hi, recently out of my window and only at night i hear this really high pitched crying, it's quite erie. when i first heard it i thought it was cats fighting (you know how they make that sound warning each other!) and then i thought it was a baby and then i thought it was birds but if it's birds ...then ive got eagles in my garden! i'm wondering what it could be? someone suggested foxes but im not sure - its such a loud pitch sound. any ideas would be appreciated!!!! :D

[burnhal]

Where in the world are you? Possibly tawny or short-eared owls but I still think the cats are the most likely answer

[lab3186]

I'm in Berkshire! I'm not sure about owls - surely it's too loud for that!

[amaham]

Could be hegehogs mating......or vampires!

[lab3186]

i know i know, it sounds weird but its such a creepy sound. im very sure it's an animal and im almost 100% its not a cat - i have cats myself so i kind of know the sounds. could it be a nest of birds? the only thing is, i never hear it in the day!!!

[marshman]

I believe what you are hearing are Foxes mating,I too have heard these screaming noises and thats what it was I found out.

[Cetti]

More than likely it will be a vixen saying she's ready to mate. She screams from December to February and it's one of the most bloodcurdling sounds in the natural world. It's her way of communicating to the dog fox - a sort of 'come and get me, I'm ready' in fox language.

[Buenchico]

It certainly sounds like foxes to me. I love to hear them calling at night but I accept that, for the uninitiated, it can sound rather erie!

Chris

[andyjevs]

First thing i thought of was either foxes or owls

[logman]

I agree with marshman, its most likely foxes mating, they get locked together for a while to ensure conception and can make some pretty blood curdling screams at times !

Muntjac deer could be another possibility ?

[woofgang]

peacocks also scream at night, it sounds like a woman being murdered

[lab3186]

thanks everyone for your answers, I think it must be foxes, but i was quite scared by the idea of vampires! i have a shed at the end of my garden so may'be they're living under it ... i shall go and inspect!! :)

[annavc]

Almost definitely foxes - the first time I heard it it really scared me - it is such an awful sound. It's definitely mating season so I'm sure that's what you're hearing.

[WendyS]

It's almost certainly foxes as it's currently the mating season. The very first time I heard it at night I thought it was a girl screaming because she'd been attacked and I agree it's a very erie and scary sound. However, we do put food out for our visiting foxes and sometimes have this terrible howling happening right under our bedroom window so have now got used to it. (Whether the neighbours have or not, is probably another matter !!)

[BlueHeather]

Most certainly a fox, we have them sometimes too. First time I heard it I thought a girl was being attacked too