Fox’s Scream: Chilling Night Alarm Bark
Kimberly DeFisher runs Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue in rural New York, where she has dedicated herself to caring for foxes and other wild animals in need. One evening, while walking near her sanctuary, Kimberly was halted by a bone-chilling noise. It was loud and intense, and at first, she couldn’t quite identify it. She strained to listen again, hoping it wasn’t what she feared. Who could be making such a desperate sound in the quiet of the night? In an interview, Kimberly described it as follows: “It almost sounds like a woman screaming many times.
This is what people hear at night, and they think, ‘What is that? Is someone being murdered?'” However, the reality was far from her initial thoughts. Peering around, she finally spotted the little trickster behind all the commotion: it was Tundra, an arctic fox who had been under Kimberly’s care for some time. The mysterious scream was simply Tundra issuing an alarm bark, trying to send a message to the other foxes at the sanctuary. For those unaware, fox alarm barks can be confusing and downright eerie.
Foxes have a wide range of vocalizations, from a low grunt to a sharp, almost shriek-like noise; they have many ways to communicate, as Kimberly explained: “It’s very amusing, because an alarm bark is something no one would ever expect to hear from a fox. It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a type of bark. And many people have no idea that a fox can bark like, you know, a dog.” To demonstrate how varied these calls can be, Kimberly created and shared a video on Instagram.
She explained that alarm barks, like the one Tundra made, are a way to signal to others that something unusual might be happening. On that particular night, Tundra was agitated because he saw another male fox who had escaped his enclosure and approached Tundra’s. This put Tundra on edge, prompting him to alert the other foxes about the ‘imposter’ in their territory. And it’s not just foxes that make the night a little eerie around Kimberly’s place.
Her sanctuary also provides a safe haven for rescued wolfdogs. With so many unique voices emanating from her sanctuary, Kimberly’s property might seem a bit frightening to those who don’t understand what’s truly going on. She added: “I could probably stick my phone out there and record a perfect howl. You hear all sorts of strange noises coming from my house at night.” But to Kimberly, it’s a natural melody of wildlife – one she’s proud to listen to every single night.