The sound of maniacal, hysterical laughter echoing through the darkness is a distinct and often unsettling phenomenon that has puzzled and frightened humans for centuries. This noise, which is frequently mistaken for a person in distress or a supernatural event, is actually a natural vocalization produced by a specific group of animals. Identifying the true source of this strange nighttime sound depends heavily on geography, but the most famous example is tied to one of Africa’s most misunderstood carnivores.
The Primary Source of the Laughing Sound
The animal most globally recognized for the “laughing sound” is the Spotted Hyena, Crocuta crocuta. This distinctive vocalization is a high-pitched, staccato series of short, giggle-like sounds often called a cackle or giggle. The sound is piercing and can carry over distances, contributing to its unsettling effect on human listeners. Unlike their famous whoop call, which is used for long-distance communication and clan rallying, the cackle is a short-range, intense vocalization. Spotted hyenas are the largest of their family and are highly successful nocturnal hunters that are more closely related to felines than canines.
The Social Meaning of the Cackle
Within the complex, female-dominated social structure of the hyena clan, the cackle serves as an honest signal conveying specific information about the individual making the sound. Acoustic analysis of the vocalization reveals details regarding the hyena’s emotional state, age, and social position. The cackle is typically emitted during periods of high excitement, frustration, or conflict, particularly when hyenas are competing over a fresh kill.
The pitch of the sound communicates the hyena’s age, with older animals producing lower-pitched cackles than younger ones. Furthermore, the variation in the frequency of the notes within the cackle encodes the animal’s social rank. Dominant individuals tend to have a more steady, confident-sounding giggle, while subordinate hyenas produce a more variable and erratic one, which can be a sign of submission or distress.
The sound is often a gesture of agitation or frustration, such as when a hyena is prevented from accessing food by a higher-ranking clan member or when the animal is being harassed by lions. It can also function as a call for help, signaling to nearby allies that a conflict is occurring and that the clan needs to mobilize to defend a carcass or territory.
Regional Confusions and Common Mimics
For listeners outside of Africa, the “laughing sound” heard at night is almost always produced by a different animal whose vocalizations mimic human hysteria or screaming. In North America, the Coyote is a frequent source of sounds that are mistaken for laughter or a person screaming in distress. Coyote yips, barks, and short howls, especially when performed by a group, often combine into a raucous sound that can be interpreted as maniacal laughter or a boisterous celebration.
The Red Fox, common across Europe and North America, is another animal whose loud, high-pitched scream is frequently misidentified as a human in peril. These startling, raspy screams are often heard during the mating season or when the animals are communicating over territory. Other animals, such as certain species of Owls or Bobcats, also produce calls that are described as unsettling or human-like. Regardless of the species, these mimics share a high-pitched, intense vocal quality that is naturally interpreted by the human brain as a cry of distress or laughter.