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September 29, 2026 Fact of the Day Mammals Red foxes have a vocal range that spans five octaves. By Michael Nordine There may not be any red fox pop stars (yet), but maybe there should be. In addition to being the most widespread carnivore in the world, they also have a vocal range that spans five octaves and can produce around 40 different vocalizations. Without training, the average human has a vocal range of one-and-a-half to two octaves; Mariah Carey, meanwhile, has a five-octave range — making her an extraordinarily gifted (human) singer. Should you ever find yourself startled by an unidentified sound in the forest, you’ll be both surprised and comforted to learn it was likely made by a red fox: surprised at the impressive range of their vocalizations and comforted because it isn’t coming from a larger, more frightening animal. What other animals sound suspiciously human? Guess the Animal What am I? Hint 1 I am a short-tailed wild cat native to North America. Hint 2 During mating season, my loud yowls can sound like human yelling or screaming. Hint 3 I’m an excellent climber and can run up to 30 miles per hour. See the Answer Keep Exploring Across Species What Is the Loudest Animal on Earth? Reptiles How Do We Know What Dinosaurs Sounded Like? Mammals See How a Red Fox Cares for Her Cubs Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up Advertise Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use 325 North LaSalle Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60654 If you'd like to unsubscribe from all Animal Facts emails, click here.