Strange noises at night

Nice dig, Woj!!!!

Have you been peekin' in my windows again?!?!?!?![smirk]

hkdonfishn is RIGHT on the money!!!

Sounds like a raccoon or possum gettin' some!!!!

Also, it could be cats, as cats will shriek when mating because there is a hook/barb at the end of the males "member", that upon extraction causes the female to ovulate, but also causes her great pain.

This may be the same for raccoons and possums.[confused]

"During the sexual act the female cat crouches in front of the male cat who mounts her and grabs hold of the scruff of her neck with his teeth. The male cat then kneads the female's sides and moves his pelvis in rapid thrusts until ejaculation occurs.

Afterwards, as the male withdraws, the female utters a loud cry. Some think this is a cry of ecstasy because the female is usually ready to mate and will do so soon again. Others think it is a cry of pain because the penis of the male cat is barbed. Scratching of the vagina may also be the stimulation need that begins ovulation. This mating period usually last four to seven days."

I hope none of all y'all get excited over reading this!!!

MS22

- The last part of my e-mail is NOT a joke...

It is a "true fact", especially the parts starting from the word "Also" to the words in quotes (taken from a website about cat mating - I had also learned about the male cats anatomy and mating rituals in an Anatomy cl [no swearing please] in high school when we were disecting a few cats as part of our cl [no swearing please] project!!!!) .

I have the same problem with hearing those "shrieks" at night, every year with my neighbors damned cats (as you can see, I am NOT a cat lover!!!), and possibly raccoons and possums goin' into heat and mating !!!

The sound is horrifying, and it kinda' sounds like the sounds that would be made by the real Tazmanian Devil animal(and somewhat like that of "Taz" in the Looney Toons cartoon)!!!!

Check this out:
Wildlife of Tasmania - Mammals of Tasmania -Tasmanian Devil

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/devil.html

Take a listen to the vocalization of the devil and you will see what we mean! (click on the website above and listen to the sounds this thing makes....Now Imagine it at a higher pitch and there you have it!!!)

The eerie call of the Tasmanian devil is a sound you will never forget!

The Tasmanian devil cannot be mistaken for any other marsupial. Its spine-chilling screeches, black colour, and reputed bad-temper, led the early European settlers to call it The Devil. Although only the size of a small dog, it can sound and look incredibly fierce.

Description
(Click upon the movie at the above website to view (4.2Mb)

The world's largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is mostly or wholly black, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Large males weigh up to 12 kg, and stand about 30 cm high at the shoulder.

Devils are famous for their rowdy communal feeding at carcasses -- the noise and displays being used to establish dominance amongst the pack.

Behaviour
Tasmanian devils are nocturnal scavengers
The devil is nocturnal (active after dark).

The devil makes a variety of fierce noises, from harsh coughs and snarls to high pitched screeches. A sharp sneeze is used as a challenge to other devils, and frequently comes before a fight. Many of these spectacular behaviours are bluff and part of a ritual to minimise harmful fighting when feeding communally at a large carcass.

JT