Stange noise from the woods......

[rich88401]

Hi all,

Late last night/early morning I started hearing an intermittent shreiking sound coming from the wood which backs onto my house.

Here's the audio clip taken from my mobile phone (out of the window!) which has been slightly amplified but not by much.

unusual noise.wav - 1.16MB

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Richard

[ellen h]

Most definitely a Fox
regards ellen

[rich88401]

Originally Posted by ellen h

Most definitely a Fox
regards ellen

Thanks for that,

I've noticed quite a few of them about the area recently. The noise went on like that for around 20 minutes but was obviously moving about as the sound got louder and quieter.

Regards
Rich

[Badger Watching Man]

I'd say it sounds like a muntjac barking. For such small deer they have powerful voices. They bark every few seconds and can keep it up for hours.

Whereabouts do you live? If it is in the south east or midlands there could well be muntjac about.

[Deer Stalker]

I agree with Ellen. No doubt a Fox.

[RobSutton]

I'd go for some sort of deer as well, I've never heard Muntjac but it is similar to the noises the Roe deer are making here at the moment. I'm pretty sure it's not a Roe so Muntjac is certainly a possibility.

[Hedgehoggy]

I think Fox too!

[Helo]

The sound doesn't seem to be powerful enough for a muntjac. I live in deep woodland, surrounded by lots of muntjac,and when they bark, you know about it! Even from afar!

[thunder]

Fox for certain

henrya

[Jim Ford]

Fox - often hear them in the park at the back of the house, sounding just like the recording. They also make a horrible squealing, like something being killed, but I think this might be fighting.

Jim

[rich88401]

Hi,

In response to the post about my location. I'm in Nottinghamshire in a semi-rural area but backing onto a series of quite substantially sized woods.

The woods that I believe the noise was coming from would have been around 100m from me but is surrounded by a 7ft fence.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Rich

[JoulesH]

Fox,without doubt. They move around a lot a this time of year as young seek terriotories of their own and those that have been lying out in crops are disturbed at harvest (where possible, this year!!!!) You'll hear it more as winter approaches and they pair up.

[Hedge Witch]

Fox for sure - when you are awoken in the night by this sound, you don't forget it!

[nightshade]

sounds like a Fox, Vixen has a really eerie scream there was one calling in an underpass near here and it put the whole town on edge!!

[Wild-Woman]

Fox. A very eerie sound in the dead of night.

[Badger Watching Man]

Oh dear - it sounds like I've been blaming muntjac for the noises in the wood, when foxes were the culprits all along!

There's still so much to learn...

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Badger Watching Man

Oh dear - it sounds like I've been blaming muntjac for the noises in the wood, when foxes were the culprits all along!

There's still so much to learn...

Or maybe you were correct - this is a link to a recording of muntjac barking that I found.

http://nickpenny.com/muntjacdeer210108.mp3

They are apparently often known as "the barking deer" and for a very good reason from the recording. Our Roe deer also bark and maybe some of the other smaller deer do too.

[Badger Watching Man]

I know the muntjac do bark - I've sat and watched them do it - and I tend to associate the very regular, rhythmic noises with them.

But does this mean that foxes do the same sort of regular, every-five-second bark?

The trouble is, now that I've moved out to the country there aren't that many foxes so I'm not an expert on them. When I was in London there were hundreds, but all they used to do was squeal and yowl and fight, but not bark.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Badger Watching Man

I know the muntjac do bark - I've sat and watched them do it - and I tend to associate the very regular, rhythmic noises with them.

But does this mean that foxes do the same sort of regular, every-five-second bark?

The trouble is, now that I've moved out to the country there aren't that many foxes so I'm not an expert on them. When I was in London there were hundreds, but all they used to do was squeal and yowl and fight, but not bark.

I'm entirely with you on this one - to me it still sounds much more like a deer than a Fox, I've never known foxes do that regular, five second bark. If it was up here I'd be thinking it was a slightly odd Roe deer, we don't get Muntjac, but I certainly wouldn't think it was a Fox.

[ellen h]

Foxes do make that bark,we have quite a few "urban" ones here.I have not only heard this bark but have actually seen them while barking.Mostly they will bark and listen or bark as they trot up the road.Seems to be a "here I am where are you?"sort of communication
ellen