Squirrel speak

[Guest guest]

This is an observation I made the other day. While going around the house to the back yard to check on the flowers, there was a squirrel in a tree close by. It had a very large nut it had found somewhere in it's mouth, and it was making sort of a sharp barking noise. I wasn't close enough to be a threat to it and soon it started eating the nut, but was still making that same call. When I started moving again, away from it, the call changed a little. Its hard to explain exactly, but the call became slightly longer and a little less harsh. It kept up that call until I was a about halfway across the yard.

It might have been communicating my presence and movements to another squirrel. There was another one around, and in the direction I was walking, but I never saw it, so it was probably up in a tree where I couldn't see it. The squirrels around here do make a a variety of calls, but this is the first time I had really been able to notice a difference in them based on something at least one of them was watching.

A few days later, there was a squirrel on a feeder I have on the side of a tree. It was getting a little too tame for my mother's liking, so I thougt I would shake it up a bit. Coming back from a walk, I managed to come up on the feeder from behind the tree. I held my hand up about even with the feeder and a few inches above the bark of the tree. With my left hand I poked my walking stick around the tree to frighten the squirrel. It worked. The squirrel shot off the feeder and around the tree, right under my hand. It took off like a shot straight up the tree. Bear in mind I had no intention of catching it, just putting a little scare into it.

The next day, that squirrel was around again. Rather than run off though, it watched from only a few feet away on the ground while I refilled the feeder and ran up to it when I was only a few steps away. This one has been letting me get very close lately. It seems my idea backfired as the squirrel seems to consider me even less of a threat now. Well, at least it hasn't been trying to get in the front door like one was last year, yet.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/11/2006 2:05:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, ravenmagic2003@... writes:

You know, , there's a Blackfoot story about Squirrels, a fire, roasting, and why certain trees look the way they do. Maybe some day I will send you the story. :-DRaven

I'd be interested in reading it.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/11/2006 2:05:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, ravenmagic2003@... writes:

You know, , there's a Blackfoot story about Squirrels, a fire, roasting, and why certain trees look the way they do. Maybe some day I will send you the story. :-DRaven

I'd be interested in reading it.

[Guest guest]

Animals do have a variety of calls that they only use in the

presence of humans.

Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to other cats

who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when humans

get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either they do

not trust us or that they will attack if provoked.

Tom

Administrator

This is an observation I made the other day. While going around the

house to the back yard to check on the flowers, there was a squirrel

in a tree close by. It had a very large nut it had found somewhere

in it's mouth, and it was making sort of a sharp barking noise. I

wasn't close enough to be a threat to it and soon it started eating

the nut, but was still making that same call. When I started moving

again, away from it, the call changed a little. Its hard to explain

exactly, but the call became slightly longer and a little less

harsh. It kept up that call until I was a about halfway across the

yard.

It might have been communicating my presence and movements to

another squirrel. There was another one around, and in the direction

I was walking, but I never saw it, so it was probably up in a tree

where I couldn't see it. The squirrels around here do make a a

variety of calls, but this is the first time I had really been able

to notice a difference in them based on something at least one of

them was watching.

[Guest guest]

" This one has been letting me get very close lately. It

seems my idea backfired as the squirrel seems to consider me even less

of a threat now. Well, at least it hasn't been trying to get in the

front door like one was last year, yet. "

You know, , there's a Blackfoot story about Squirrels, a fire,

roasting, and why certain trees look the way they do. Maybe some day

I will send you the story. :-D

Raven

[Guest guest]

" This one has been letting me get very close lately. It

seems my idea backfired as the squirrel seems to consider me even less

of a threat now. Well, at least it hasn't been trying to get in the

front door like one was last year, yet. "

You know, , there's a Blackfoot story about Squirrels, a fire,

roasting, and why certain trees look the way they do. Maybe some day

I will send you the story. :-D

Raven

[Guest guest]

Tom wrote: " Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to

other cats who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when

humans get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either

they do not trust us or that they will attack if provoked. "

Hmmmmm, interesting. So what does it mean when I have a cat

that 'chirps' instead of 'meows' in the traditional sense?

Raven

[Guest guest]

Tom wrote: " Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to

other cats who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when

humans get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either

they do not trust us or that they will attack if provoked. "

Hmmmmm, interesting. So what does it mean when I have a cat

that 'chirps' instead of 'meows' in the traditional sense?

Raven

[Guest guest]

http://cat.lifetips.com/subcat/59154/cat-behavior/cat-vocalizations/

Chirping sounds from Kitty

With un-altered females, a ´chirping´ type of cat vocalization is a

signal she´s in heat (ovulating and ready for a mate.) They may also

howl mournfully, if they are isolated from males.

Tom

Administrator

Hmmmmm, interesting. So what does it mean when I have a cat

that 'chirps' instead of 'meows' in the traditional sense?

Raven

[Guest guest]

Are you saying this behaviour has evolved and they are not consciously

mistrusting?

I have known different cats who would use either of these sounds when

making a friendly greeting to a human they knew and approaching to be

patted.

>

> Animals do have a variety of calls that they only use in the

> presence of humans.

>

> Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to other cats

> who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when humans

> get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either they do

> not trust us or that they will attack if provoked.

>

> Tom

[Guest guest]

Are you saying this behaviour has evolved and they are not consciously

mistrusting?

I have known different cats who would use either of these sounds when

making a friendly greeting to a human they knew and approaching to be

patted.

>

> Animals do have a variety of calls that they only use in the

> presence of humans.

>

> Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to other cats

> who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when humans

> get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either they do

> not trust us or that they will attack if provoked.

>

> Tom

[Guest guest]

Cats who trust you or who are willing to trust you use the " Meee "

sound. Those that are not willing to trust you or who don't trust

you will use the " Meeoooww " sound.

Some cats will use both, and this is interesting, because if a cat

says " Meee " to you one day and " Meeeoowww " to you on another, you

ought to wonder what it is that has caused that cat's feeling to

change for you in the interim.

Tom

Administrator

>

> Animals do have a variety of calls that they only use in the

> presence of humans.

>

> Cats, for example use the " Meeee " sound when taking to other cats

> who do not pose a threat, but use the " Meeeeowww " call when humans

> get near them. The " Owww " is a subtle indication that either they

do

> not trust us or that they will attack if provoked.

>

> Tom

[Guest guest]

>

> Cats who trust you or who are willing to trust you use the " Meee "

> sound. Those that are not willing to trust you or who don't trust

> you will use the " Meeoooww " sound.

>

No this doesn't fit my experience. Where have you got this from? I

know a cat who will greet you with the ow sound and behave actively

friendly to you.

[Guest guest]

Cats are my perseverative interest. I have read many, many books on

the 37 species of wildcat and the vocalizations of wildcats and house

cats.

Your experience is true. Cats will be just as friendly when they use

the " Meee " sound as the " Meeeowww " sound, but at the same time, when

they use the " Meeeowww " sound, they are indicating their distrust of

you.

Tom

Administrator

No this doesn't fit my experience. Where have you got this from? I

know a cat who will greet you with the ow sound and behave actively

friendly to you.

[Guest guest]

That is so interesting. I'll have to listen for the difference. I

find anyone who knows about a particular animal or animals a valuable

resource. Like Horse Whisperers, Dog Whisperers, etc. Are you a Cat

Whisperer? If so, please share some of your insights and experiences,

if you don't mind.

>

> No this doesn't fit my experience. Where have you got this from? I

> know a cat who will greet you with the ow sound and behave actively

> friendly to you.

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/12/2006 5:43:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, no_reply writes:

The lions will come up to their bars whenever I arrive at the zoo, they know me so well.

Dogs almost always get along well with me.

One thing that I noticed that was rather odd. Once when I was at the ton, SC aquarium, several odd things happened. The first was in the snake area. In this one very large environment tank was a water moccasin. It was back in the tank, but when I walked up to the glass, it came out from the back and swan through the water to glass right up to me even though there were some other people around. It sort of hung there for a moment and swam back along the glass and to where it came from. Later, there was tank with a lot of fish. A bunch of them swam up to the glass and followed me back and forth as I walked around. Oddly, noone else seemed to notice that, or the thing with the snake.

[Guest guest]

The lions will come up to their bars whenever I arrive at the zoo,

they know me so well.

I have a way with cats, and...for some odd reason...beagles.

Tom

Administrator

Are you a Cat Whisperer? If so, please share some of your insights and

experiences, if you don't mind.

[Guest guest]

The lions will come up to their bars whenever I arrive at the zoo,

they know me so well.

I have a way with cats, and...for some odd reason...beagles.

Tom

Administrator

Are you a Cat Whisperer? If so, please share some of your insights and

experiences, if you don't mind.

[Guest guest]

-

>

> Your experience is true. Cats will be just as friendly when they use

> the "Meee" sound as the "Meeeowww" sound, but at the same time, when

> they use the "Meeeowww" sound, they are indicating their distrust of

> you.

>

> Tom

> Administrator

>

Link me to some evidence on it, that shows more

than that some researcher has simply drawn a wrong or over-sweeping

conclusion. Why should I accept this interpretation of the cat's

feelings instead of seeing the behaviour as disproving the idea?

[Guest guest]

-

>

> Your experience is true. Cats will be just as friendly when they use

> the "Meee" sound as the "Meeeowww" sound, but at the same time, when

> they use the "Meeeowww" sound, they are indicating their distrust of

> you.

>

> Tom

> Administrator

>

Link me to some evidence on it, that shows more

than that some researcher has simply drawn a wrong or over-sweeping

conclusion. Why should I accept this interpretation of the cat's

feelings instead of seeing the behaviour as disproving the idea?

[Guest guest]

Maurice,

Every book I have ever read confirms what I've told you.

Nevertheless...

http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?

path=/public/animalbehavior/cats/1.2.529.txt

" The second most common vocalization is the meow. Rarely heard between

cats, this vocalization seems tailor-made for communication between our

species. "

" Early on, cats notice that meowing brings attention, contact, food and

play from their human companions. Some behaviorists suggest that

certain cats seem to alter their meows to suit different purposes and

that some guardians can differentiate between, say, the " I'm hungry

meow " from the " let me out " meow. Others would say this is more context-

driven than actually being able to infer meaning by sound alone. "

" The meow is the most used of the vowel patterns - vocalizations

produced with the mouth first open and then gradually closing. Several

forms of demand also fit into this category. "

http://www.petplace.com/cats/understanding-cat-communication/page1.aspx

Two complex sounds are interesting: the mew and the meow. The mew may

just be the kittenish equivalent of the adult meow as, like the meow,

it signals a wish for attention from a benevolent attention-seeker. The

meow is made up of two sounds, phonetically " me " and " ow. " The former

is thought to mean " here I am " and the latter " don't hurt me. " Kittens,

of course, direct the mew toward their mothers. Adult cats direct the

meow toward humans perhaps because, as cats' feeders and groomers, we

fill a parental role.

Tom

Administrator

>

> Your experience is true. Cats will be just as friendly when they use

> the " Meee " sound as the " Meeeowww " sound, but at the same time, when

> they use the " Meeeowww " sound, they are indicating their distrust of

> you.

>

> Tom

> Administrator

>

Link me to some evidence on it, that shows more than that some

researcher has simply drawn a wrong or over-sweeping conclusion. Why

should I accept this interpretation of the cat's feelings instead of

seeing the behaviour as disproving the idea?

[Guest guest]

Snakes and fish do this with me also.

Dogs seem to be indifferent to me unless I deliberately try and pay

attention to them. Then they are friendly.

Tom

Administrator

One thing that I noticed that was rather odd. Once when I was at the

ton, SC aquarium, several odd things happened. The first was

in the snake area. In this one very large environment tank was a

water moccasin. It was back in the tank, but when I walked up to the

glass, it came out from the back and swan through the water to glass

right up to me even though there were some other people around. It

sort of hung there for a moment and swam back along the glass and to

where it came from. Later, there was tank with a lot of fish. A bunch

of them swam up to the glass and followed me back and forth as I

walked around. Oddly, noone else seemed to notice that, or the thing

with the snake.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/13/2006 8:44:52 AM Eastern Standard Time, mikecarrie01@... writes:

She said if bumblebees fly close to you they are attracted to you but if they dive bomb you they are chasing you away. I could see the difference.

Yesterday I had a bumblebee fly into my arm, but I think that was due to bad flying rather than any kind of message on its part. The azelias are in bloom now and the bumblebees are all over them. I was walking past them when one flew out and hit my arm then flew off across the yard. From that way it acted, it seemed more surprised than I was.

I do know that wasps will land on your head as a warning. Bad thing is that your reflex is to put your hand on your head, which probably will get stung. I learned this one the hard way. The next few times I felt something land on my head, I would just shake my head and move away, that is when I was hunting the wasp nests in the bushes out front.

[Guest guest]

It could be because beagles are an independent breed.

>

> Are you a Cat Whisperer? If so, please share some of your insights

and

> experiences, if you don't mind.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> " Two complex sounds are interesting: the mew and the meow. The mew may

> just be the kittenish equivalent of the adult meow as, like the meow,

> it signals a wish for attention from a benevolent attention-seeker. "

Okay, so the mew is what you mean by meee? I've heard the difference

then between mew and meow.

" The meow is made up of two sounds, phonetically " me " and " ow. " The

former

> is thought to mean " here I am " and the latter " don't hurt me. " "

Interesting.