The ability to identify animal sounds can be extremely helpful for anyone who spends a good amount of time outdoors. Knowing how to identify animal sounds is not always just about knowing if the sounds you’re hearing are coming from dangerous animals or not, but also about knowing what types of noises you should pay attention to.
Some animals make noise when they’re happy, others when they’re angry or fearful. Some sounds indicate danger and some don’t!
Do you know how to identify animal sounds? If not, we’re here to help. Today, we’re talking about the ten noisiest animals you may encounter in the United States and help you figure out how to identify animal sounds they make.
But before we dive in, let’s talk about why you need to identify animal sounds in the first place.
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Why You Might Need To Identify Animal Sounds
If you spend lots of time outdoors, knowing how to identify animal sounds could be important.
One of the most important skills for any outdoor enthusiast is the ability to know how to identify animal sounds. You might need to know what a bird or squirrel is saying, or you might need to identify a particular noise as dangerous or benign.
Here are some reasons why you might need to know how to identify animal sounds:
For Safety When You Are Hiking Or Camping
When hiking or camping in areas where there are wild animals, it is important to know what they sound like so that you can identify them and stay out of their way. If you’re out in the wilderness, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of the types of animals that live in the area. It also helps to know how to identify animal sounds so you can make decisions if you hear something before you see it. This way, if there is a dangerous animal nearby, you’ll be able to keep yourself safe by knowing what type of animal it is.
To Have A Better Idea Of What Types Of Animals Are Living Nearby Your Home or Property
If you live in the country or have a lot of land around your home or property, it’s always wise to know what types of animals live in the area so that if you hear an animal near your property, you’ll know how best to proceed and which steps to take to protect your family, pets, and property.
For Pest Control Purposes
If you have an issue with unwanted pests on your property but you’re not able to catch them in the act, then knowing the sound they make can help. For example, if there are rats in your attic or mice in your garage, then it is crucial that you know what they sound like in order to easily identify them when they are making the noise. This will help you when it comes to determining the types of treatments you will need to use in order to get rid of them.
For Fun!
Learning about different types of animal sounds can be really interesting and fun for kids and adults alike! You don’t always need to have a reason for needing to know how to identify animal sounds, though the skill can come in handy.
Of course, when learning about how to identify animal sounds, you should also keep in mind that different animals make different sounds based on their mood, their environment, and whether or not they feel threatened.
Your location will also play a role in the types of animal sounds you may hear. In the United States, there are a plethora of noisy animals you might encounter. Today, we are going to talk about ten of the noisiest.
Keep reading.
How To Identify Animal Sounds
There are several ways you can go about identifying animal sounds.
Animal sounds are a fascinating part of nature and can be a great way to learn about animals. If you are interested in identifying animal sounds, here are some tips:
First, have a good idea of where you are and what animals are around. This will help narrow down the possibilities for what an animal sounds like when you hear it.
Other methods for how identifying animal sounds in your area could include the use of specific smartphone applications.
There are many apps available for smartphones that allow you to identify animal sounds by simply recording them.
If you hear a repeated sound that you are not able to identify, local wildlife agencies in your area can also help you determine how to identify animal sounds. To do this, simply record the sound and show it to a professional.
When you are listening to different animal sounds, it’s important to follow some safety measures.
First, don’t seek out the sound. The animal making the sound could be dangerous or threatening. Avoid going after the animal making the sound until you know what type of animal it is and whether or not it’s safe for humans to approach.
Next, be sure you listen carefully. Make sure that there isn’t any background noise interfering with your ability to hear the animal sound clearly. If there is a radio, people talking nearby, or other noises interfering with your hearing ability, move away from them so that you can better focus on the sound if possible.
Last, try and pay attention. If there are several different types of animals in the area making noises that you are aware of, try to focus on one particular sound at a time rather than trying to listen all at once as this can be confusing.
And speaking of several different animals, remember that the United States is home to a wide variety of animals that make several different types of sounds.
Below we are going to discuss the top ten animals you may hear near your property or when you are out and about in nature.
Top 10 Noisy Animals You May Encounter
If you’re out and about in nature, it may be more common for you to run into animals.
There are many different types of animals in the world, and each one has its own unique set of sounds and calls. Some sounds are difficult to identify, but for the most part, you can learn how to tell what kind of animal is making a particular noise by listening carefully.
If you have never heard that specific animal sound before, it might take some time to figure out what it is. Once you know what they sound like, however, it will be much easier to identify them in the future.
It also helps to know which types of animals that are most common in your area that are known to make sounds.
Some of the noisiest animals in the United States include:
- Coyotes
- Mountain Lions
- Frogs
- Bears
- Cicadas
- Wolves
- Raccoons
- Bobcats
- And the Screech Owl
If you are interested in learning how to identify animal sounds, we suggest beginning with these top ten most common animals. Let’s begin with the coyote.
1. Coyotes
Coyotes make a variety of different sounds.
Coyotes are native to North America and are members of the canine family. They can be found in deserts, grasslands, mountains, and forests throughout the United States. Coyotes can also be found in urban areas where they prey on small mammals such as rabbits, rats, and squirrels.
Coyotes do not make any sounds when hunting their prey. However, when defending their territory or pups they will bark or howl loudly to scare away intruders. The coyote’s howl is a long series of notes that start low and then rise in pitch. The sounds can sound short and abrupt, or like repeated, whining yelps.
The time of year when coyotes are vocal differs from place to place depending on what food source is available at that time of year and how many predators there are competing for it.
Coyotes have also been known to attack people and pets like dogs and cats. Some coyotes will even hunt in groups, which can make them even more dangerous to humans. However, for the most part, coyotes are not considered an aggressive species unless they feel threatened or cornered.
If you hear a coyote howling in your neighborhood at night or during the day (especially during the spring when breeding season begins), then it’s likely that there are other coyotes around too. It is best to keep your distance from coyotes. They are wild animals, after all, and can be known to spread diseases if they bite or scratch you.
2. Mountain Lions
Mountain lions are also sometimes called pumas or cougars.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers, are members of the cat family Felidae that live in the wilds of North America. They were once found in a variety of habitats throughout most of the western hemisphere, but today they are primarily found in mountainous regions where deer and other animals live.
Mountain lions are elusive animals that prefer to hunt at night and hide during the day. They hunt deer, elk, and smaller prey like rabbits and raccoons. Their diet can vary depending on what’s available.
The below video shows what a mountain lion might sound like when looking for a mate.
Mountain lions have special vocalizations they use to attract mates or repel rivals from their territory. They also rely on other sounds like growls and snarls to communicate with each other. When threatened by humans or other predators, however, they may roar or make other loud noises as a warning signal. The sound is similar to a lion’s roar but much lower-pitched and more raspy in nature.
Mountain lions are most vocal during their mating season which takes place between January and March every year. At this time, males leave their solitary lifestyles in order to find a mate. They will often fight with each other over females, and make a great deal of noise in the process.
Sadly, mountain lions were once hunted almost to extinction by humans but have made a remarkable comeback in recent years. The best way to protect yourself from mountain lions is to understand their behavior and avoid situations where you might come into contact with them.
Mountain lions are not usually aggressive toward humans, but they will attack if they feel threatened or cornered.
If you hear a mountain lion, don’t go near the sound. Stay calm and leave the area. If you see a mountain lion, do not run away from the mountain lion. Running will trigger its chase instinct and encourage it to chase after you. Instead, face the animal, make yourself look big (hold your arms above your head) and yell loudly while backing away slowly.
If you have pepper spray or bear spray handy, use it on the mountain lion’s face to deter it from attacking.
3. Frogs And Toads
Frogs and toads are some of the loudest animals in the United States.
Frogs and Toads are both amphibians and belong to the anuran family. They differ in size, appearance, and habitat. The most common species of frog is the green frog (Rana clamitans). Toads are generally larger, with dry skin and no webbing between their toes. Frogs are more active during daylight hours, while toads are nocturnal.
Frogs and Toads make a wide range of sounds. They can be loud or soft, high-pitched or low-pitched, long or short. They even vary their calls depending on the situation.
Frogs and Toads use their voices to communicate with each other. Frogs croak to attract mates, announce territories and warn other frogs not to stray into their space. Toads make a variety of sounds, including a chorus of croaks and chirps when they’re mating. Toads have a raspy call that sounds like “ribbit.”
The most common sound you’ll hear from frogs is their mating call. This is a long “ribbit” that starts softly but gets louder as it goes on.
When it comes to knowing how to identify animal sounds, we should point out that frogs and toads are among the most vocal of creatures, and their calls can be heard from miles away.
Though these sounds can be annoying, toads, frogs, and other amphibians are good indicators of environmental health. They are sensitive to changes in water quality and temperature, and they can be affected by diseases and parasites. The amount of rainfall and snowmelt, the amount of shade in a creek or pond, the amount of sediment flowing into a stream or lake — all these things affect amphibians.
If you hear a lot of frogs or toads during the summer months, it’s a sign that the population is healthy and reproducing successfully. If you don’t hear any at all, it could mean that there are fewer animals than usual or that they’re not breeding at all.
4. Bears
Bears tend to be quite noisy no matter what they are doing.
Bears are large wild animals that are common throughout North America. They can be very dangerous. So, it’s important to know how to identify animal sounds and also to know what to do if you see a bear.
These mammals can come in many different sizes and colors depending on their species. There are several types of bears in the United States including black bears, brown bears, polar bears, and grizzlers. All of these types of bears live in different parts of the US.
Bears are usually quiet during the winter months when there isn’t much to eat. But when spring arrives, they start to look for food again and become more active and noisy. They usually make low, grunting noises when walking or sniffing around, and can be much louder when they’re fighting over food or territory with another bear. If you hear loud growling or roaring sounds coming from trees or bushes, it could also be a sign that there are bears nearby!
If you hear the sounds of a bear, avoid going near the area. Knowing how to identify animal sounds and bear sounds, in particular, can be very helpful if you’re an avid hiker or camper as bears can be quite dangerous.
If you see a bear while hiking or camping, don’t run away as this could trigger them to chase after you. Instead, slowly walk backward until you are out of sight and make yourself as large as possible.
Bears are common in many parts of the United States, so if you are an avid hiker or camper, consider investing in bear spray. Bear spray will not cause long-term harm to a bear, but it is one of the most effective tools you can have on hand to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from bears if you come into contact with them.
5. Cicadas
Cicadas are some of the loudest insects in the world.
When it comes to knowing how to identify animal sounds, you may not think of cicadas off the top of your head. However, cicadas are some of the noisiest critters on the face of the earth.
But what are cicadas? Cicadas are insects in the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, in the superfamily Cicadoidea. The hind wings are partially membranous and have numerous veins. These insects can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. There are about 2,500 species of cicada throughout the world.
They are unique animals as they have quite a long nymph stage and a very short adult stage. The nymphs live underground as juveniles before emerging as adults in a cycle that repeats every 13 or 17 years depending on the region. As adults, cicadas only generally live for three to four weeks after they emerge from the ground. During this time, however, they are incredibly loud.
A cicada song is produced by males to attract females for mating purposes during their brief adult stage of life. It is characterized by a loud buzzing sound produced by vibrating membranes in their abdomen called tymbals which produce audible sounds when struck together at a high speed.
Cicadas are loudest when the weather starts warming up in early spring, and their song may continue until summer ends in late August or early September. The sound is similar to crickets but louder. Some people find it annoying, while others enjoy it as part of the natural sounds of summer.
For the most part, cicadas themselves are not dangerous. However, cicada bites can cause some itching and swelling, but rarely any other symptoms.
If you’re bothered by the noise of cicadas, there’s not much you can do besides waiting them out until September or October. If you want to keep them away from your yard or garden, try using pest control products that are specifically designed to keep cicadas away in all their life stages.
7. Wolves
Wolves are famous for how they howl.
When it comes to knowing how to identify animal sounds, it’s very important to know how to identify predator sounds. Just like bears, coyotes, and mountain lions, wolves are predators.
Wolves are large canines that are related to dogs and coyotes. They live in packs, which consist of an alpha male (the dominant male), the alpha female (the dominant female), pups, and other subordinate members of the pack. A pack can range from five to 30 wolves, depending on their habitat and food source.
Wolves are carnivores and eat mostly meat, but they will also eat berries, vegetables, and insects when meat is not available.
Wolves howl to communicate with each other, especially when they’re separated from their pack or when they are hunting prey. They also bark, growl and whine during interactions with other species or people. Wolves have been known to bark at night during mating season, but only males do this regularly.
Wolves don’t usually attack people unless they feel threatened or cornered by someone who is trying to hurt them or their pups. You may accidentally frighten a wolf if you happen to get too close to a den site where they are raising their young ones or if you stumble upon a lone wolf that is starving or injured. Otherwise, for the most part, wolves tend to steer clear of humans.
8. Raccoons
Raccoons can not only be destructive but also noisy.
Raccoons are medium-sized mammals that are native to North America. They have pointed faces, bushy tails, and long claws. They usually weigh between seven and 20 pounds, but can sometimes grow larger. Raccoons sleep during the day and are active at night. They live mostly in forests, but also visit backyards and neighborhoods to find food and water.
Social animals, raccoons can make many different sounds from screeches, growls, and howls to chirps and whistles. These sounds depend on their moods and situations (for example when they feel threatened or when they’re excited). If you’re looking into how to identify animal sounds, identifying raccoon sounds can be most complex.
Raccoons can be heard at all hours of the day and night, but they tend to be noisiest between dusk and dawn. There are several reasons why they are so vocal during these hours, with one being that it is mating season.
The mating season for raccoons begins in late winter or early spring and lasts until June or July. During this time, male raccoons will fight each other for females and females may scream if they feel threatened by another female. Both males and females will also let out high-pitched screams when they’re afraid or if they’re defending their territory from other males or predators like coyotes or wolves.
As with any animal, raccoons can be dangerous if they have rabies or other diseases. However, they do not pose any threat to humans unless they are rabid or in extreme pain. If you see a raccoon on its own, it’s probably just looking for food and water and will leave you alone if you leave it alone.
9. Bobcats
Like other predatory animals on this list, bobcats can growl and make other sounds.
Bobcats are medium-sized cats that live throughout the United States and Mexico. Their name comes from their short, stubby tail. There are several subspecies of bobcats, but they all have a similar appearance. They have brown or tawny fur with black spots or stripes on their backs and tails. Their undersides are white, with black stripes on their faces and legs.
Bobcats rarely make any noise at all, except when they’re mating or fighting over territory. When they vocalize, they emit low growls and hisses that can be heard up to half a mile away.
Bobcat mating season occurs between February and April. Males will howl as part of courtship behavior during this time period as well as when establishing dominance over their territory. Females also howl during mating season to signal that they’re ready to mate with males who approach them. Male bobcats become aggressive during this time because competition for mates is fierce; it’s not unusual for male bobcats to fight each other over females during the breeding season.
Though they are predatory animals, bobcats are rarely seen because they hunt at night and spend the day in hiding places like hollow logs or under brush piles.
Bobcats can kill animals much larger than themselves, but they’re rarely aggressive toward humans unless they feel threatened.
10. Screech Owl
Screech owls are some of the loudest birds.
Last on our list of animals, you might consider learning about when learning how to identify animal sounds is the screech owl.
Screech owls are medium-sized, brown birds with long tail feathers, short wings and a white face with round eyes. They have large yellow eyes that they use to hunt in the dark and powerful talons to catch mice and small rabbits.
These noisy owls live in forests, woodlands, brushy fields, and even city parks. They are most active at night but may be seen during the day on occasion. Screech owls can be found all across North America. They’re also known as “wood owls,” because they prefer wooded areas or forests.
Screech owls are the most vocal of all North American owl species. They have a wide range of calls, including a long series of rapid hoots, guttural growls and screeches, and even the occasional purr. The most common call is a single, deep “hoo” or “hooter.”
These owls are often heard before they are seen. Their distinctive calls can be heard at night throughout much of North America. However, they’re most vocal in late winter and early spring when they’re defending their territory or looking for mates.
How To Identify Animal Sounds – Let’s Summarize
Knowing how to identify animal sounds can be important to help keep you safe when out and about.
Animal sounds are familiar to many people. But how do you know if the animal sound you are hearing belongs to a dangerous animal or not?
Here are some tips on how to identify animal sounds, when to know if a sound is dangerous or not, and when to call an expert or professional for help with animal sounds around your home.
Know When To Be Concerned
There are some sounds that should always be cause for concern, such as sinister-sounding growls or loud screaming sounds in woodlands. These sounds may mean that there is a predatory animal nearby and it is best to stay away.
Other sounds like hooting, chirping, or yelping can be signs of smaller animals that are less dangerous. Still, it is always wisest to stay away from wild animals, regardless of their species.
Know When To Call An Expert Or Professional For Help With Animal Sounds Around Your Home
If you hear unfamiliar animal sounds coming from near your home, your yard, or even in your house, it could be a sign of a pest control issue. If you know how to identify animal sounds, do so and use this skill to help you determine how to treat potential pest control issues while also keeping yourself safe.
And remember, there are many more animals you might consider learning about when it comes to how to identify animal sounds. The above are just ten of the most common.
So, which other animal sounds would you be interested in identifying? Tell us in the comment section below.
Jack founded our blog after two decades of working in the pest control industry. His vast experience dealing with a wide array of pests allows him to diagnose issues quickly and get to the heart of pest problems quickly and effectively. He has serviced more than 2,000 homes over his career and there is hardly any pest situation that he has not seen before.