Foxes late night screeching near my house, are they ok?

I've seen a fox running down my street a few times in the dark, but 2 nights ago , while I was in bed, I heard a terrible screeching noise. At first it sounded like a child screaming but it quickly came apparent it was a fox or foxes.
The noise was very dramatic and went on for a few minutes.

Is this a mating call , an argument, or just normal fox behaviour?

I don't know too much about them but I was curious about the screeching. It's always a lovely sight to see them slinking away in the moonlight.

Sounds normal for foxes I think. Sort of like a dog but screechy :)

Hate to lower the tone, but mating foxes sound like someone is being murdered!

Eek :D

Yes it's normal for foxes to screech like a distressed child lol! I remember the first time I heard it...I was mortified :ohmy:

ISB x

Thanks guys. It was certainly a noise you can't forget ! X

I often come across foxes with being a late night walker. A few months back there was a young grey one just screeching standing on a petrol station forecourt. He moved away a little when I came past and what he had been screeching at endlessly was a big black cat curled up looking like it couldn't care less, as cats tend to do. The fox circled around me, I moved the cat on and the fox went on his way.

We hear them sometimes. I guess they are warning things off or humping. Cats are the worst for the latter! It's either really really good or painful! :blush:

We have them here Carrie and one came with mum's house when I sold it.
Hangs around in her back garden, that will be a surprise for the new owners.

The first time I heard that noise, was in the night. I though someone was being murdered. It's so loud and quite disturbing and I watched the fox scouring down the road. Looking for food, I suppose.
My cat does not like it at all. His ears go back and he pulls a face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Carnation

We have them here Carrie and one came with mum's house when I sold it.
Hangs around in her back garden, that will be a surprise for the new owners.

The first time I heard that noise, was in the night. I though someone was being murdered. It's so loud and quite disturbing and I watched the fox scouring down the road. Looking for food, I suppose.
My cat does not like it at all. His ears go back and he pulls a face.

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For years I wondered what the weird screeching noise was every time someone in EastEnders went to bury a body in the woods. Then I saw Midsummer Murders and one of the characters said it was a fox.

I have fields and woodland surrounding my house, so I very often hear the foxes at night. Even worse are when the fox cubs are play fighting, they make a horrendous racket. There are badgers around here too which can be suprisingly noisy buggers. But nothing tops the screaming a rabbit makes when it is caught by a fox or an owl, that's a truly bonechilling noise.

The joys of living in the country.