Beavers make many sounds, including chatter, purrs, grunt, growls, and clicks. These calls are all used for different purposes. The most common sound is beaver chatter, used as an alarm call.
When most people think of beavers, the first thing that comes to mind is their dams.
But beavers are much more than just builders. They are also intelligent animals with complex social structures.
Beavers communicate with each other using a variety of vocalizations, or calls. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the different types of beaver calls and what they mean.
What Do Beavers Sound Like?
Beavers are vocal animals and use a variety of sounds to communicate with each other. The most common beaver call is a loud, high-pitched “chatter.” This sound is made when beavers are alarmed or excited. It is also used as a warning to other beavers in the area.
Beavers make use of several vocalizations[1]:
- Chatter
- Purr
- Grunts
- Growls
- Clicks
The two most used are chatter and purrs. The chatter is a high-pitched alarm call, while purrs are softer and lower-pitched calls. This sound is usually made when beavers are content or relaxed.
The remaining sounds are used for communication within a beaver family group.
What Sounds Do Beavers Make?
Beavers make five different sounds: chatter, purrs, grunts, growls, and clicks.
The Chatter Call
The chatter call is the most common type of beaver call. This sound is usually made when beavers are alarmed or excited.
It is also used as a warning to other beavers in the area.
The chatter call is a loud, high-pitched sound that is produced by rapidly grinding the beaver’s teeth together.
This call can be heard from up to half a mile away and is typically used to warn other beavers of predators or danger.
The Purr Call
The purr call is a softer, lower-pitched call that is typically made when beavers are content or relaxed.
This sound is produced by vibrating the beaver’s vocal cords.
The purr call is typically used within a family group of beavers. It is thought to be a way for beavers to reassure each other and build social bonds.
The Grunt Call
The grunt call is a short, sharp sound that is produced by exhaling air through the nose. This call is used as a form of communication between two beavers.[2]
It is thought that the grunt call is used to express a variety of negative emotions such as excitement, anger, or frustration.
The Growl Call
The growl call is a long, low-pitched sound that is produced by exhaling air through the mouth.
It is thought that the growl is used to express a variety of emotions similar to the grunt.
The Click Call
The click call is a short, sharp sound that is produced by clicking the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
Clicking is used as a defense mechanism. When beavers are under attack or threatened, they will make their clicking call.
What Is the Beaver Mating Call?
The beaver mating call is a long, low-pitched sound that is produced by exhaling air through the mouth. This call is typically used to attract mates during the breeding season.
The beaver mating call is thought to be similar to the growl call, but it is lower in pitch and longer in duration.
This call can be heard from up to half a mile away and is typically used to attract mates during the breeding season.
Do Beavers Scream?
Beavers do not typically scream. They may make a high-pitched squeal if they are injured or in pain. This sound is produced by exhaling air through the nose.
Do Beavers Vibrate Their Tails?
Beavers do not typically vibrate their tails. They sometimes make a noise that sounds like a tail slap if they are alarmed or excited.
This sound is produced by quickly slapping the beaver’s tail on the water surface.
Do Beavers Whine at Night?
Beavers do not typically whine at night. They do make a soft humming noise if they are content or relaxed. This sound is produced by vibrating the beaver’s vocal cords.
Baby Beaver Sounds
The most common sound that baby beavers make is a high-pitched whining[3]. This sound is typically used to signal distress or fear.
Baby beavers don’t have developed vocal cords yet. They also don’t have as much control over their vocalizations.
They primarily make two sounds:
- Whining
- Chirping
Whining is used to signal distress or fear. It’s also used if baby beavers have needs or wants, to get their mother’s attention.
The softer, chirping sound is thought to be used to show that they are content.
Do Beavers Grumble When Foraging?
While there is no definitive answer to whether they grumble or not, it is generally believed that beavers do not grumble when foraging.
This behavior has not been extensively studied and more research is needed to confirm this.
If you have ever heard a beaver grumbling while foraging, it is likely that the beaver was making another type of call (such as the purr call or the grunt call).
So, while beavers may not grumble when foraging, they do make a variety of other sounds that can be mistaken for grumbling.
Conclusion
Beaver vocalizations are an important way for beavers to communicate with each other. They use calls to show when they are angry, content, relaxed, and excited. They have different vocalizations for each purpose.
