Listen to fox noises
What Noises do Foxes Make?
Male red foxes make noises similar to the sound of a screaming woman to warn off competing mates. Female red fox sounds consist of short, shrill shrieks that are meant to attract males. Gray foxes make dog-like barking noises used for self-defense.
Foxes make a variety of vocalizations, each serving different purposes. Here are the most common sounds they produce:
- Barks – Short, sharp, and high-pitched, fox barks are used for communication between individuals, especially during mating season or to mark territory.
- Screams (or “Vixen’s Scream”) – A loud, eerie, and drawn-out wailing sound, often mistaken for a person in distress. This is most commonly heard during mating season (typically winter) when females call for mates.
- Gekkering – A chattering or clicking sound used during aggressive encounters, such as fights or play among foxes.
- Whines and Whimpers – Softer sounds, often used between a mother fox and her kits or when foxes are submissive to a dominant individual.
- Howls and Yelps – Occasionally, foxes will let out longer calls that resemble a mix between a howl and a bark, sometimes as a distress call or territorial announcement.
Fox vocalizations can be surprisingly loud and unsettling, especially at night, which is when they are most active.
When found around homes, both fox species scratch and dig as they forage for food, which can be heard by residents.
Do You Hear Foxes on Your Property?
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Where Will You Hear Foxes?
Both red and gray foxes can be found in forested areas, on farms, and in residential neighborhoods throughout the United States. Foxes will hunt on your property. They typically hunt rabbits, rodents, birds, frogs, and earthworms as well as eat carrion. Their presence is worrisome for residents with pets or other animals, such as rabbits, chickens, or ducks.
Foxes are known for their stealthy behavior and sneak around on private properties looking for food. Though they are nocturnal and encounters with humans are rare, the presence of foxes still puts residents in danger.
Fox Problems & Removal
Foxes become aggressive when they feel threatened and will bite, scratch, and claw to protect their dens and young. Additionally, foxes are known carriers of rabies.
Animals enter homes for a variety of reasons. Prey animals can enter a home to escape from a predator. A fox on your property could be driving rodents into your home.
Due to these dangers, property owners should never approach foxes and instead contact professional wildlife control as soon as they hear fox sounds. Critter Control wildlife technicians can remove foxes without incident or injury.