Rather than the soul-haunting, drawn-out sound of a wolf's howl, a coyote's howl is characterized by high-pitched barks and yips, with each song consisting of a lot of lyrics. And, coyote songs can be loud. Researchers have speculated that the intensity and volume of the vocalizations may also have meaning.

What kind of sounds do coyotes make?

Coyotes can also whine, bark, and even make a loud bark-howl sound. One of the more common coyote sounds is the bark: Barks can range from high to low intensity and are used as a long-range warning or threat. The bark-howl is used also as a long-distance threat or alarm, but it's just higher in intensity and pitch.

Why do coyotes sound so scary?

It's an auditory illusion known as the "beau geste" effect, and is due to the variety of sounds produced by a male and female coyote and the way sound gets distorted as it passes through the environment. Basically, two coyotes can sound like seven or eight animals.