Stories

The Story Behind A Prey's Distress Call

The Obvious Explanation

The obvious explanation for why animals scream is to vocalize the terror, fear, and pain of being ripped apart. Or, it might be in response to another injury, such as the rabbit I wounded in the beginning of this article or finding themselves caught in the jaws of a trap. In any case, distress cries trigger a "dinner bell" response in predators. They know from experience that the prey animal's physical wellbeing has been compromised, and the rabbit, bird, or rodent that attempted to escape their clutches on even ground is now easy prey.

This is a learned response. As a coyote pup learns to hunt, its parents teach it the art of chasing, catching, and killing prey. Adults will often capture and only injure prey animals for the benefit of providing these lessons. Each time the pup hears the prey species scream precipitated by these attacks, it reinforces the knowledge that these vocalizations mean a vital meal.

Predictably, predators respond to distress screams in relation to their status on the food chain. Those on the upper rungs — uneducated coyotes in most circumstances — are likely to charge in and capitalize on the situation, securing the meal and then guarding it from intruders. Smaller predators such as fox, bobcat, and birds of prey will exercise caution to avoid becoming collateral damage. If a larger predator has killed the prey animal, an element of danger exists and caution is prudent. But the need to eat still drives them to respond, just more cautiously.

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