skip to main content

Wildlife Garden

strange animal noises

17 years ago

This is the second year I've heard some kind of an animal noise right outside my house in the night, every night, this time of year---coming from where several large azalea bushes are growing.

A single cheeping/squeaky noise, repeated several times at various times during the night...never starts until after it's completely dark out. Could it be some kind of bird? I've been thinking that they don't make much noise after it's dark.

We have squirrels, but they wouldn't have a nest right near the ground, would they? I've looked and don't see anything during the day.

Anyone want to take a guess?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

ksfarmer
17 years ago
Frogs or Toads???
maifleur01
17 years ago
Look for robins. I used to work nights and walked home from the bus stop. In the darkest areas the dd things would sit on the ground and make noises. After stumbling over several I did learn to shuffle my feet. First time I kicked one by accident it flew up the front of my leg. I am surprised my heart didn't stop beating I was so scared. I did look for any hurt bird after it became daylight but did not find any.
Related Discussions
Neighboring animal clinic's barking noise is out of control
Q
Comments (6)
As Lucy said, Move. The vet was there before you. Why should the vet move and inconvience his customers because you moved in and don't like his business? Your main complaint is with the city that granted the permit to build residential next to an existing business. You remind me of the people who built their dream McMansion next to a farm, then complained to the highest levels of government that the farm animals were noisy and smelled like animals. They lost and moved.
...See More
'strange noise'
Q
Comments (5)
They are most likely in a state of hibernation. Of course some will die but if they were healthy to begin with most will make it once it warms up unless they are injured in the fall. We hibernate our desert tortoise every year even though our climate rarely gets to freezing temps. As cold weather nears she starts eating more dead plants to clear her system and get ready for her "sleep". Once the days are sufficiently cold we put her in a crate on the rear porch. If freezing temps hit we move her to the unheated garage. She isn't completely lifeless during this time. She will move a bit if disturbed. We know it's official Spring when she awakens. She has a huge appetite at that time and will easily 3 times her normal amount that she eats during the summer. I feel bad for those Iguanas. They are not really native to Florida at all. People brought them in as pets.
...See More
What animal noises are these? Fox, coyote?
Q
Comments (3)
There is a gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) as well. That's the trill sound that happens twice.
...See More
Miele washer making strange noise
Q
Comments (0)
I have a Miele W1113 washer. When the drum tumbles in one direction, all I hear is the clothes thumping against the drum sides. But just recently I noticed that when the machine reverses its tumble direction, it makes a kind of higher pitch whirring sound. It only makes this noise in one direction, not the other. Any speculation on what might be going on?
...See More
catherinet
17 years ago
Yep....toad or frog.
treelover
Original Author
17 years ago
What an odd thing to happen, maifleur. I never see robins in my yard, but I have seen toads occasionally. Good! I was afraid it would be a rat or something I don't want around.

Thanks all! -- Carol
lellie
17 years ago
Treelover...try this link...mebbe you can ID the 'culprit'...LOL
Let us know what it is when ya figger it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas frog calls
treelover
Original Author
17 years ago
What a neat website, lellie! Thanks for the link. You should have seen my cat sit up and look around when I started playing those calls.

The one I hear sounds most like the Pseudacris crucifer (spring peeper) and they are in my county according to another website I found. Have never seen a frog around here, though. Must be nocturnal.
knottyceltic
17 years ago
The other thing you might consider is a "burrowing owl" if you have those in your area. The sounds of some owls can sound like squirrels and other things such as frogs/toads/peeps etc... I don't know where you are located but Burrowing Owls winter in south Texas.
treelover
Original Author
17 years ago
Never knew there was such an owl.

I doubt that's what my noise is from. My outdoor cats are all lazy slugs, but a feathered critter scurrying along the ground would probably be too much for them to ignore.
ltcollins1949
17 years ago
I live on the Texas Coastal Bend, and for the past month or so the tree frogs have been singing all night long. Look for them on your windows looking for some insects to eat. Lots of people that move to Texas don't recognize the sound.

Related Stories

HOUSEKEEPING What's That Sound? 9 Home Noises and How to Fix Them

By Mitchell Parker

Bumps and thumps might be driving you crazy, but they also might mean big trouble. We give you the lowdown and which pro to call for help

HOME OFFICES Quiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home

By Christine Ciarmello

Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Heed Your Animal Instinct

By Yellow Brick Home

Avoid beastly dullness by bringing in the raw energy of animal prints, patterns and accessories

PETS Dealing With Pet Messes: An Animal Lover's Story

By Tiffany Carboni

Cat and dog hair, tracked-in mud, scratched floors ... see how one pet guardian learned to cope and to focus on the love

LIFE 21 Things Only People Living With Kids Will Understand

By Mitchell Parker

Strange smells, crowded beds, ruined furniture — here’s what cohabiting with little monsters really feels like

MOVING Making a Home Away From Home

By Laura Gaskill

Feeling like a stranger in a strange land? These tips can help ease the transition after a big move

FENCES AND GATES How to Choose the Right Fence

By Laura Gaskill

Get the privacy, security and animal safeguards you need with this guide to fencing options

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: A Musical Couple's Home Strikes a Personal Chord

By Kimberley Bryan

Light, glass and many musical instruments animate this 1905 bucolic Washington farmhouse

Guest Picks: Take Your Nursery on a Safari Trek

By Noelani Zervas

Give your little one a jungle's worth of animal friends and gently wild nursery decor to stir the imagination

Houzz Interview: Brenda's Cozy Little House in Texas

By Becky Harris

Sponsored

1 Review

Industry Leading General Contractors in Columbus

More Discussions

Two new species at feeder!

2

Starlings and grackles have discovered my feeders, are decimating suet

0